Uncategorized Tasmanian Franklin 24 Mar 202321 Mar 2023 In 1844 Andrew Bent cobbled together a retrospective of his career for his pamphlet appealing for charitable aid. He stated … he is recognized by All, who know anything of…
Imprints… Paper in mourning 10 Oct 2022 On 19 October 1827 Andrew Bent issued what must surely be one of the most curious newspapers ever printed in Australia—the famous ‘mourning’ issue of the Colonial Times. It was…
Family A long shadow 13 May 202213 May 2022 During the latter part of his life Andrew Bent’s mental health deteriorated badly, a process which may well have begun before he left Hobart early in 1839. Letters he wrote…
Timeline James Austin 11 Mar 20228 Mar 2022 Of all the friendships Andrew Bent formed in Hobart Town his bond with James Austin, an original Calcutta convict, ran especially deep. Their relationship appears to have been one of…
Imprints Crim. Con. 24 Sep 202117 Sep 2021 In my list of Andrew Bent’s printing I have included a number of items which, while known to have been printed and published, have no surviving copies. There were also…
Timeline Bentfield part 2 11 Aug 202111 Aug 2021 On 19 July 1828 Andrew Bent—who had grown up in the slums of London, spent his entire working life as a printer, and knew next to nothing about farming—became the…
Timeline Bentfield part 1 3 Aug 20214 Aug 2021 One measure of Andrew Bent’s early success was the amount of real estate he accumulated. He owned several properties in Hobart Town and two small farms at Glenorchy, one granted…
Events Memorial Lunch 6 May 20216 May 2021 On 1 May 2021, the Hobart Friends of the ABC held an event to highlight World Press Freedom Day. In doing so they paid tribute to one of the pioneers…
Family… Benjamin Bent 12 Mar 202113 May 2022 Benjamin Bent, the middle of the three Bent brothers, arrived in Australia, like his two siblings, as a transported felon. He had his first encounter with the magistrates, and first…
Imprints Bookbinding (2) 11 Sep 202014 Sep 2020 Rivals and Arrivals The eighteen thirties saw an expansion of bookbinding activity in Van Diemen's Land and the arrival of at least two skilled free workmen, GEORGE HOWARD and GEORGE…