| Howard Baker
Bill Howard Baker established Howard Baker press
in 1968. It was his ambition to reprint all 1683 issues of the Magnet. He
managed over 1500 mainly from the Amalgamated Press archives but was unable
to complete the task as the original copies were not available. He knew a
number of collectors had the issues he was looking for but was frustrated by
the fact they wouldn't allow them to be used. In the final issue of the
Greyfriars Gazette Howard wrote "For it is unthinkable that the great
endeavour should end incomplete, at the heel of the hunt, because of the
selfish, dog-in-the-manger attitude of a few collectors who have copies to
lend but are unwilling to lend them, despite every safeguard and assurance -
and generous payment, in cash or in kind. So the pleasure of many is
sacrificed. But on what a sad and shameful altar."
Howard Baker died suddenly at the age of 65 on
February 13th 1991 at his home /office in Wimbledon. The other shareholders were
unwilling to continue the business so HB press was put up for sale. The only
interest shown by potential buyers was in the substantial stock of books.
Unfortunately nobody was interested in buying the business as a going concern so
the dream of eventually reprinting all the Magnets died with Bill. After Bill's
death his business partner sent out a letter to people who had previously bought
books from HB advising them of this, you can read it
here.
An obituary was published in The Times on 16th Feb 1991, You can read it
here. |
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Howard Baker Greyfriars Press volumes were on
general sale in shops and could also be bought direct from the publisher. These
were the 'mainstream' papers mainly from the Golden era.
Howard Baker Club volumes were available only by
mail order direct from the publisher. Buyers were encouraged to sign a bond
which would commit them to buying a set number of volumes, payable in advance.
If they signed the bond and paid up they were entitled to free P&P and regular
copies of the Greyfriars Gazette. Baker described these volumes as "Strictly
limited de luxe numbered editions of the rarest publications of pre-war AP
papers, mainly Magnet, Gem &c. These are directed solely to the arcane minority
of dedicated collectors"
The Greyfriars Gazette provided up to date
information on Howard Baker's publishing plans. The Gazettes were supplied free
to bond holders. A selection can be downloaded from the links below
Howard Baker published a catalogue twice a year. A
number are available for download from the links below.
Four Greyfriars Book Club catalogues are available
for viewing. Issue five is of particular interest as shows the proposed titles
of the volumes for the 1912 and 1913 issues of the Magnet that weren't published
due to copy not being available.
To increase sales HB also produced some of the
story papers in single unbound format. You can see two of the 'specials' singles
catalogues below.
Anyone familiar with Howard Baker press will
recognise the Wimbledon address of 27A Arterberry Road as it appeared on most of
his publications. This wasn't a warehouse address as you may expect
but Baker's own home. You can see a photo of the building
here.
