Papers of the Publishing House of Bentley

Reference and contact details: GB 161 MSS. Eng. misc. d. 810-11, d. 1209, e. 732-6; Eng. lett. c. 330
Title: Papers of the Publishing House of Bentley
Dates of Creation: 1829-1936
Held at: Bodleian Library, University of Oxford
Extent: 9 shelfmarks
Language of Material: English.
Level of Description: fonds

Administrative/Biographical History

Richard Bentley & Son was a publisher and bookseller based in London. The members of the Bentley family represented in the collection are Richard the elder (1794-1871), his son George (1828-1895), daughter-in-law Anne, and grandson Richard the younger (1854-1936).

Scope and Content

Papers of three generations of the publishing house of Bentley, consisting of:

  • Cash-book of Richard Bentley the elder, 1829-48
  • Collections of extracts in several hands, including printed pieces and engravings, ca. 1832-1858
  • 'Diary vol. III' of Richard Bentley the younger, 1873-4
  • Journal by Anne Bentley of a visit to Spain, 1884-5
  • 'Note Book vol. vi', containing extracts by George Bentley from his reading, up to ca. 1874
  • Inventory of the property of George Bentley, June 1895
  • Inventory of the property of Anne Bentley, November 1898
  • Letters of condolence to Lucy Bentley, on the death of her husband, Richard Bentley the younger, 1936
  • Stock certificates of members of the Bentley family, 1855-77

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were bought from Phillips, Son & Neale in 1974.

Access Conditions

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/).

Finding Aids

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. I, nos. 45597-605.

Related Units of Description

See also Papers of Richard Bentley (MSS. Don. b. 12-13, c. 86-7, d. 132-4) and Letters to Richard and George Bentley, Publishers (MSS. Eng. lett. d. 90, d. 100, e. 25).

Processing Information

Collection level description created by Emily Tarrant, Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts.