1819
First Report of the Auxiliary Branch Bible Society of Van Diemen’s Land. 1819. With a List of Benefactors and Subscribers. Hobart Town: Printed by A. Bent, Government Printer. MDCCCXIX.
24p., 21 x 12.6 cm. Mitchell Library copy has plain paper cover.
Ferguson 729a. Copies: ML; TSL (from Craig Collection); TNA (CO201/127 f. 586-597)
TNA copy available online via AJCP
Andrew Bent signed up for an annual subscription of one guinea.
A meeting on 8 May resolved that a report, with an account of the receipts and remittances, be published annually, for the satisfaction of subscribers; that the resolutions be printed and published, and a copy of them transmitted to the Patron of the Auxiliary Bible Society of New South Wales. Another on 10 May that as soon as the resolutions now and before passed shall have full effect, and the reports of sub-committees shall be collected, a statement of the proceedings shall be printed in a small tract, for the information of Benefactors and subscribers, and of the public.
On 7 Oct. 1820 Rev. Robert Knopwood sent a copy of the first and second reports to Commissioner Bigge, and on 9 Oct, a copy of each to T. H. Scott (HRA III, 3, p. 688)
Rules and Orders of the Lieutenant Governor’s Court, in Van Diemen’s Land. Also, a Table of Fees; to be taken by the Officers of the Court. Published by order of the Deputy Judge Advocate. Hobart Town: Printed by Andrew Bent, Government Printer. MDCCCCXIX.
14, [4] p., 21.3 x 12.7 cm.
Ferguson 769. Copies: BL (bound with Michael Howe and other titles in a volume bearing Thomas Scott’s Earlston bookplate no. 908); DC; ML; TNA (CO201/134); VSL
Printers’ error in date. DC and TNA copies have dark green covers.
Publication (on 1 Nov. 1819) announced in HTG 3 Oct. ‘This Publication will he found very useful to every Person residing in Van Diemen’s Land Price 2s. 6d.’
The Lieutenant Governor’s Court was established in 1814, and the Deputy Judge Advocate was Edward Abbott. Annotations on ML copy may be by Edward Abbott Jnr., who was an officer of the Court in which his father presided.
Digital version (Dixson Library copy) is available.
1820
Second Report of the Auxiliary Branch Bible Society of Van Diemen’s Land. 1820. Hobart Town: Printed by Andrew Bent. MDCCCXX.
24p., 17 x 11.3 cm. Blue paper wrappers.
Ferguson 773a. Copies: TU
Accounts in the third report show that Bent was paid £8.12.6 for printing 200 copies of the second report and other printing work during the year.
On 7 Oct. 1820 Rev. Robert Knopwood sent a copy of the first and second reports to Commissioner Bigge, and on 9 Oct, a copy of each to T. H. Scott (HRA III, 3, p. 688)
A Catalogue of Sundries; being Part of the valuable Investment of Mr. John Raine, per Ship Regalia, which will be sold by Auction, by Mr. R. W. Fryett, on the Premises occupied by Mr. Raine, as a Store in Macquarie Street, on Monday the 24th of July, 1820, and five successive Days. Hobart Town, 1820.
20p., 15.5 x 11.5 cm. (approx) Colophon: A. Bent, Printer.
Not in Ferguson. Copies: TNA (CO201/141 f. 371-380. Enclosure in Hull to Bigge, 8 Aug. 1820) Available online via AJCP (pages are out of sequence)
The first catalogue printed in Tasmania.
In June 1820 Raine offered to sell some rum to the Commissariat and took great umbrage when Deputy Assistant Commissary-General George Hull refused to buy it. Next month the rum was included along with many other articles in Raine’s auction. A newspaper advertisement for the forthcoming sale advised that printed catalogues were available from the auctioneer. In this catalogue, and also in widely circulated printed handbills, Raine claimed his rum was superior to that sold by the Commissariat, and by implication cast aspersions on Hull, who was equally quick to take offense. The printer, under instructions from Governor Sorell, published a clarification in the Gazette the following week, just before the auction was held. ‘The allusions respecting the rum … were inadvertently inserted, and entirely escaped his notice; or it would have been equally his duty and desire to avoid the impropriety.’ Auctioneer Fryett advertised that he was in no way responsible either for the printing of the catalogue or the ‘improper insinuations’ it contained. During the auction Raine took to the podium himself and denigrated both Hull and the Commissariat rum. Hull complained to Sorell and the incident obviously still rankled when Hull made a submission to Commissioner Bigge in August. He included a copy of the catalogue as evidence. Bent later recalled how the printing of Raine’s catalogues ‘nearly cost him his life, by being nearly but accidentally drowned in a large ten tun butt, containing rum, above “Hull” proof!’ Bent subsequently printed catalogues for a number of auctioneers and merchants including Messrs. Fryett, Lewis, Cox, Mather and Hopkins but as these were less controversial none have survived. (Bent, 1829 Almanack. HTG 15 and 22 July 1820. HRA III, 3, p. 187; 669-671. Bent’s News 8 Oct. 1836.)
Fifty Pounds Sterling Reward [offered by James Lord and David Lord for information on the theft of 125 Sheep at the Tea Tree Brush on 27th Nov. 1820.] Dated Hobart Town, December 1, 1820.
Broadside, 21 x 15.2 cm.
Laid paper. Water mark includes a lion and a unicorn.
Ferguson 801. Copies: DC (2 copies)
[Printed and written document ‘In the Lieutenant Governor’s Court’, Edward Lord’s wife and agent sue Wm. Blyth for £40] Dated 14 Oct 1820. Not sighted. One of 4 items of Bent’s printing in Clifford Craig sale, 1975 (lot 127)
ANDREW BENT: Father of the Free Press in Australia 