ESTABLISHED in 1925, Faber and Faber has a reputation as one of London’s most important literary publishing houses, based upon strong editorial teams and an insistence on good design and illustration.

Toby Faber, grandson of the founder, traces the company’s history through its illustrations, covers and designs for The Arts Society Wensleydale on Tuesday, May 14, at 2pm in the Middleham Key Centre.

Early years brought innovations like the Ariel Poems – beautifully illustrated single poems sold in their own envelopes. In the 1950s and 1960s, there was an emphasis on typography, led by the firm’s art director Berthold Wolpe, whose Albertus font is still used on City of London road signs.

Faber and Faber has employed many celebrated artists as cover illustrators – from Rex Whistler and Barnett Freedman to Peter Blake and Damien Hirst.

Toby, who was managing director for four years and remains on the Board, promises that his talk “will be peppered with personal insight and anecdote" reflecting the intense pride he gains from his association with the last of the great independent publishing houses.

New members will receive a very warm welcome. Visitors pay £8 a lecture, refunded if they join. Contact Ros Higson on 01765 635244 or at wensleydale@theartssociety.org for more details.