The compilation of the Ren-shou Edition of the Twenty-Five Histories began in the 1950s as a celebratory tribute for the birthday of Chiang Kai-shek. Spearheaded by Hu Weike, Strategic Advisor to the Presidential Office, in collaboration with eminent Taiwanese scholars, the "Bureau for the Publication of the Twenty-Five Histories" was established to meticulously select and edit the finest extant rare editions. Upon its completion, then-Vice President Chen Cheng inscribed the four characters “Ren Shou Xin Shi” (仁壽信史 — The Authentic History of Benevolence and Longevity), from which the edition derives its name. This collection represents a monumental achievement in 20th-century historiography, building upon the foundational experience of the renowned Baina edition while integrating the latest scholarly discoveries.

是書編纂始於上世紀五十年代，為蔣介石賀壽獻禮。由臺灣“總統府”戰略顧問胡偉克匯同臺灣知名學者，設立二十五史編刊館，精選史籍善本編輯而成。書成後，由時任副總統陳誠題“仁壽信史”四字，故名“仁壽本”。

仁壽本《二十五史》在編纂過程中充分吸收了《百衲本二十四史》之經驗，并以當時最新的學術成果補充。所據底本除宋、元善本，還吸納了清人精校精注之本。如《漢書》、《後漢書》，百衲本所據底本分別為南宋景佑本、南宋紹興本，仁壽本所據則為南宋福唐郡重刊北宋淳化監本。《宋書》、《南齊書》等，百衲本所據底本皆為眉山七史本，該版除《宋書》殘冊一種為宋刊宋印外，其餘皆為宋、元、明遞修本，這些遞修本因為版片模糊、文字殘損而被稱為“三朝本”、“邋遢本”。而仁壽本《宋書》所據為南宋紹興間江南重刊北宋監本。

諸如此類底本的更換，大幅提高了仁壽本的學術價值，使之成为二十四史系列的优秀版本。