A rotary printing machine having a plurality of serially disposed printing units, each including two blanket cylinders in mutual contact and two plate cylinders respectively cooperating with one of the blanket cylinders, and a main drive system individually driving each of the plate cylinders, the main drive system of each of the printing units comprising two spur gears in mutually meshing engagement and in meshing engagement with the spur gears of the respective main drive system of the printing units immediately adjacent thereto, each of the plate cylinders having a drive gear in meshing engagement with one of the two spur gears and, in combination with the main drive system, a drive system serially associated therewith and comprising two additional spur gears coupling each of the plate cylinders to a respective blanket cylinder, the additional spur gears being disposed adjacent the main drive system in a gear line different from that of the main drive system.