In this third and final volume of The Art of Reginald Heade, published in the 125th anniversary year of the artist’s birth, authors Stephen James Walker and Steve Chibnall showcase a further collection of his outstanding work from the 1930s to the 1950s. Presented within are full-colour reproductions of dozens of newly-rediscovered, incredibly scarce dustjacket pieces by Heade, along with some of the very finest of his classic pulp fiction paperback covers, almost all in full-page size and in better quality than ever seen in print before, along with much new analysis and information.
Reginald Heade is renowned amongst vintage paperback fans and collectors as the pre-eminent British pulp fiction cover artist of the mid-20th Century. His beautifully-realised, erotically-charged pieces are near-legendary amongst lovers of classic pin-up art; and the original books on which they appeared are now highly-sought-after rarities. Equally exceptional, however, are the many pieces he produced for hardback novel dustjackets, children’s books, periodicals and other commercial items, all of which are amply represented within the pages of this volume, showcasing just how fine an illustrator he was.
The Art of Reginald Heade – Volume Three is a veritable treasure trove for Heade’s many admirers, and for anyone with a taste for classic book cover artwork.
REVIEWS OF VOLUME ONE
‘Surely the ideal Christmas present for anyone interested in pulp fiction, popular art and social history this year will be the Special Edition Volume 1 of The Art of Reginald Heade by Stephen James Walker along with its companion Volume 2, by Stephen Walker and Steve Chibnall both published, clearly as labours of love, by Telos. From raunchy, stocking-top covers for Hank Janson (and many other authors’) pulp thrillers and more restrained covers for conventional crime series such as The Saint, to romantic fiction (including Barbara Cartland) and westerns to illustrating classics such as Treasure Island, for comic strips to advertising campaigns, Reginald Heade (1901-1957) packed an awful lot of artwork into a relatively short life.’ Mike Ripley, Shots Magazine
‘In terms of Heade’s pin-up art, this book is a gold-mine (most of which are very high quality – and even those that aren’t can largely be excused on the grounds that even though published 60-70 years ago the publishers and paper-stock are flimsy to say the least). The content should have collectors everywhere delighted by the inclusion of so many rare images.’ Richard Sheaf, Down the Tubes
‘To have all these rare book covers in one place fulfils a collector’s dream. [That now goes (almost) double for the Special Edition.] I can speak with first hand knowledge of how difficult it is to gather all of Heade’s covers into one place, having taken over for some years (2003-06) the Hank Janson website set up by Allan Tagg. Heade was a prolific paperback cover artist in the post war years for some of the cheapest, lousiest publishers around, and to lay your hands on a high quality copy of any of his books is nowadays akin to a miracle.’ Steve Holland, Bear Alley
REVIEW OF VOLUME TWO
‘Our Highest Recommendation. Reginald Heade was an incredibly prolific artist, at the height of his career taking on as many as 100 commissions per year. Ongoing research carried out since the completion of work on the expanded Art of Reginald Heade Vol. One has uncovered hundreds more previously unknown examples of his superb book cover, magazine illustration and other commercial art, and all of these are presented here. Plus: the most comprehensive biography of Heade ever, including the first photographs of the artist ever to be published; a detailed checklist of all known published work; many previously-unpublished preparatory sketches and roughs; plus dozens of superb full-page reproductions of Heade’s original pulp-fiction cover paintings, showcasing choice examples of his most celebrated work in greater detail and clarity than ever seen before.’ Bud Plant
390pp. Large format 22cm x 28cm hardback. Fully illustrated in full colour throughout.
ISBN: 978-1-84583-261-2
Published June 2026
The Hank Janson name, logo and silhouette device are registered trademarks of Telos Publishing Ltd.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Stephen James Walker has authored or co-authored an average of one book per year since the early 1990s, many of them about the BBC’s acclaimed Doctor Who series. He has a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Physics from University College London, and his many other interests include cult TV, film noir, vintage crime fiction, Laurel and Hardy and an eclectic mix of soul, jazz, R&B and other popular music. Between July 1983 and March 2005 he acted as an adviser to successive Governments, latterly at senior assistant director level, responsible for policy on a range of issues relating mainly to individual employment rights. His working time is now taken up by his writing projects and by his role as co-owner and director of Telos Publishing. He lives in Canterbury with his wife and family.
Steve Chibnall is believed to be the only Professor of British Cinema in the world, and is one of the UK’s senior film historians. He is director of De Montfort University’s Cinema and Television History Institute’s archives, which include the Hammer Script, Palace and Scala, Peter Whitehead, Andrew Davies, Sir Norman Wisdom, and Indian Cinemas archives. He is also owner of the Steve Chibnall Collection, which consists of tens of thousands of pieces of British film and popular culture memorabilia. He has written or edited a dozen books, published many articles and book chapters, contributed sleeve notes and commentary moderations to DVD releases from Studio Canal, Odeon Entertainment and the BFI, featured on television and radio, and organised events at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Regent Street Cinema and the Cinema Museum, where he is Visiting Professor. He has also been researching Reginald Heade for over 30 years and owns many of his original paintings.
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