-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 F7wcRGo6JT2VyUeiqYK7a/9VNkTWIdgCHxDmq+HAqCoxl1aLFYoCfQaZKFeyGR8U
 4T9SdRIRnWuf/4qMt6DCow==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001294165-04-000010.txt : 20040622
<SEC-HEADER>0001294165-04-000010.hdr.sgml : 20040622
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040622134705
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001294165-04-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040614
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040622

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HORWITZ JONATHAN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001294165

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05133
		FILM NUMBER:		04874312

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		617-292-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM INVESTMENTS
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000810943
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				046562068
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002251581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021107

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH INCOME CONVERTIBLE & BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pcf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001294165</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HORWITZ JONATHAN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM INVESTMENTS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Mgr. Dir., Putnam, LLC</officerTitle>
            <otherText>Treasurer of Putnam Funds</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jonathan S. Horwitz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>horwitzconfirm.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONFIRMING STATEMENT
<TEXT>


Confirming Statement

I, Jonathan S. Horwitz, as Reporting Person of Putnam Investment
Management, LLC and/or Putnam, LLC, the Issuer's Investment Adviser and
Indirect Parent Holding Company, respectively, hereby authorize and
designate each and every Managing Director, Senior Vice President and
Vice President in the Putnam Investments Legal and Compliance
Department to file SEC Exchange Act Forms 3, 4 or 5 on my behalf until
further notice in electronic format pursuant to Rule 101(b)(4) of
Regulation S-T.

- ---------------------------

/s/  Jonathan S. Horwitz



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
