Geoffrey Cust Faber and Sir Maurice and Lady Alsina Gwyer joined in 1924 in a publishing partnership, Faber and Gwyer Limited, based on a medical publishing firm, Scientific Press Limited, already owned by the Gwyers. Faber bought his partners out in 1929, when the firm became Faber and Faber Limited. He had already secured the services of T. S. Elliott as literary adviser, and Elliot stayed with the firm until 1965.
Throughout its history, Faber and Faber has published the work of promising young writers, particularly poets and playwrights. Believing that the appearance of a book should be as excellent as the contents, books issued by Faber and Faber have always been well designed and produced. From 1966 Faber Music Limited was an important part of the organisation. The company issued paperback editions from 1957, and by 1990 these represented eighty per cent of sales.
Geoffrey Faber, who was a leader of the British publishing industry and headed bodies such as the Publishers' Association Council and the National Book League, was president of the company until his death in 1961. The company has resisted potential mergers and takeovers by allowing, from 1989, the purchase of one third of company shares by management and staff.
