Horn Boy. [printed by Andrew Bent junior and Robert Bent]
3 Jan. 1838 – Apr. 1838.
Weekly (Wednesdays) as a supplement to Bent’s News.
Ferguson 1802a (although Ferguson assumes it was the same as Robertson’s People’s Horn Boy) No copies.
Gratis advertising sheet intended to compete with the Trumpeter and John Hall’s new Advertiser. Forthcoming publication announced in BN 30 Dec. 1837. Conducted by Andrew Bent junior and his brother Robert, assisted by their sisters Elizabeth and Catherine.
The Horn Boy will not only be always exclusively devoted to the insertion of Advertisements, never admitting in its columns anything in the shape of News, but will make a most formidable appearance in its size, excelling that of the other Advertising Sheets. It will, moreover, be conducted by two juvenile Tasmanian Youths, Andrew and Robert Bent, who are being taught the Art of Printing by their Father, the “Tasmanian Franklin,”assisted by their two eldest Sisters, for the benefit of ten Children. After these professions and frank explanation, who will not support the Horn Boy?
Mostly referred to in Bent’s news and elsewhere as the Horn Boy but also as the Tasmanian Horn Boy. Bent did not register the title or deposit any issues with the Colonial Secretary and no copies survive. Suspension of publication was announced in Bent’s news 14 Apr. 1838, ostensibly because of the increasing circulation of Bent’s news, but more probably because of impending libel action. The supplement was used to promote forthcoming material in Bent’s News, and was read in court in evidence in Stephen v Bent (no. 2). It is not clear whether Bent ever purchased the copyright of Robertson’s People’s Horn Boy although an advertisement by Robertson offering it for sale which appeared on 2 Jan. 1838 rather pointedly hinted that he should.
ANDREW BENT: Father of the Free Press in Australia 