The Central Association of Lithographic and Copperplate Printers' Societies of Great Britain and Ireland was formed in 1860 as a federation of local societies. In 1880 it formed the core of the new Amalgamated Society of Lithographic Printers.

The Central Association included societies in Belfast, Bradford, Dublin, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield.

The only sources of information on members are the annual reports of 1873 and 1878 (MSS.39/ASL/6/CA/2-3), which include lists of members of each society in December 1872 and December 1877 respectively.