A printing blanket which requires no packing when installed and which has a nontextured, substantially smooth and low abrasion base surface contacting the blanket cylinder so that the pressures to which the blanket is subjected are spread substantially over the entire surface of the blanket in contact with the blanket cylinder is provided. The laminated printing blanket construction includes at least one base ply and a surface layer. The exterior surface of the base ply is coated with an elastomer to provide the substantially smooth surface. The blanket eliminates mechanical abrasion of the blanket cylinder surface with which it is in contact.