George Bell & Sons
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGeorge Bell & Sons was an English publishing house known for educational works, classics, children's literature, and books on art, architecture, and archaeology.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
George Bell & Sons was an English book publishing house established in London in 1839 by George Bell. The business began as an educational bookseller, with Bell initially intending to distribute publications produced by London university presses. Its publishing activities soon became more important than its retail trade, prompting an early move to Fleet Street and the development of a substantial independent publishing list. The firm's catalogue grew across several related areas. Educational titles remained central, while classical literature, literary scholarship, poetry, children's books, art, architecture, archaeology, and specialist academic works became important parts of the business. Among its early publishing investments were Railway Companions, a series of timetable booklets and travel guides. The company also issued significant illustrated and scholarly works, including Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, and published works associated with authors and editors such as Andrew Lang and Robert Bridges. George Bell expanded the company's position through acquisitions and partnerships. In 1854 he acquired the Cambridge bookseller J. & J. J. Deighton, which was subsequently operated as Deighton, Bell, & Company. In 1856 he entered into partnership with Frederick Daldy, creating Bell & Daldy. During this period the firm enlarged its literary list, issued the Aldine Edition of British Poets, obtained British rights to Webster's Dictionary, and took over the libraries of publisher Henry George Bohn. The scale of the operation led to further premises changes and the eventual departure from the original Fleet Street retail location. Daldy left the partnership in 1873, after which the business adopted the name George Bell & Sons. George Bell remained connected with the company while his sons Edward and Ernest gradually assumed managerial responsibility. In 1888, Bell formally left day-to-day management to them, although he continued to have an interest in the business until his death in 1890. The firm became a limited liability company in 1910. The business remained family-influenced while its management evolved across the twentieth century. Edward Bell died in 1926, and his son Arthur joined the board before becoming chairman in 1936. Arthur Bell remained an important figure in the firm's leadership until his death in 1968. In 1977, the company traded as Bell & Hyman, Ltd., under managing director Robin Philip Hyman, and moved to Denmark House on Queen Elizabeth Street in London. George Bell & Sons ultimately ceased to exist as an independent publishing business when Bell & Hyman merged with George Allen & Unwin in 1986. The resulting company was named Unwin Hyman. Unwin Hyman was later acquired by HarperCollins in 1990. The George Bell & Sons name therefore represents a long-lived British publishing tradition whose educational, classical, and illustrated lists continued to influence the publishing businesses that succeeded it.
History
George Bell founded the business in London in 1839 as an educational bookseller. His initial plan was to sell publications from London university presses, but the publishing side expanded rapidly. The firm produced Railway Companions, including timetable booklets and tourist guides, and soon moved from its first premises at 1 Bouverie Street to Fleet Street as its publishing programme outgrew its retail operation. The company developed a broad catalogue rather than remaining solely an educational bookseller. It published classical texts, literary scholarship, poetry, children's literature, and works concerned with art, architecture, and archaeology. George Bell was also associated with Henry Cole, and the firm's list included both practical educational works and substantial illustrated or scholarly publications. Children's publishing expanded in the 1850s through works connected with Margaret Gatty and Juliana Horatia Ewing. In 1854, Bell acquired the Cambridge bookseller J. & J. J. Deighton. Its premises and business were subsequently operated under the name Deighton, Bell, & Company. Two years later, Bell formed a partnership with Frederick Daldy, and the principal business became Bell & Daldy. The partnership strengthened the company's literary programme. Bell & Daldy published poetry, including the Aldine Edition of British Poets, issued works by Andrew Lang and Robert Bridges, acquired British rights to Webster's Dictionary, and took over the libraries of Henry George Bohn. The acquisition of Bohn's business brought the firm to premises at 4 York Street, Covent Garden, previously occupied by Henry George Bohn and earlier associated with bookselling in the classics. As the publishing list increased, the firm no longer needed its Fleet Street retail location and left it in 1867. Daldy departed in 1873 to join Virtue, Spalding, & Daldy, and the business then adopted the name George Bell & Sons. George Bell transferred management to his sons Edward and Ernest in 1888, although he remained involved until his death in 1890. The company became a limited liability company in 1910. Edward Bell died in 1926. His son Arthur joined the board and became chairman in 1936, and the next generation of management continued to direct the firm. Arthur Bell died in 1968. The business later operated as Bell & Hyman, Ltd. Robin Philip Hyman became managing director in 1977, the same period in which the company moved to Denmark House on Queen Elizabeth Street. In 1986, Bell & Hyman merged with George Allen & Unwin to create Unwin Hyman. Unwin Hyman was acquired by HarperCollins in 1990, ending the independent corporate life of the George Bell publishing business. The company's historical output included Vasari's Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, F. H. A. Scrivener's work on New Testament criticism, educational science and mathematics texts, children's and vegetarian cookery books, fiction, travel-related publications, and specialist works such as Duncan Sommerville's Elements of Non-Euclidean Geometry. Its publishing identity combined education, classics, literary culture, and illustrated knowledge of the arts.
- 1990
Unwin Hyman acquired by HarperCollins
[1]The successor company Unwin Hyman was acquired by HarperCollins.
- 1986
Merger into Unwin Hyman
[1]Bell & Hyman merged with George Allen & Unwin to form Unwin Hyman.
- 1977
Bell & Hyman period begins
[1]The firm operated as Bell & Hyman, Ltd., with Robin Philip Hyman as managing director, and moved to Denmark House on Queen Elizabeth Street.
- 1910
Conversion to a limited company
[1]The business was incorporated as George Bell & Sons, Ltd.
- 1888
Management passes to the Bell sons
[1]George Bell handed management of the business to his sons Edward and Ernest while remaining connected with the firm.
- 1873
Adoption of the George Bell & Sons name
[1]Frederick Daldy left the partnership, and the company reverted to the George Bell & Sons name.
- 1867
Departure from Fleet Street
[1]After expanding its publishing list and premises, the firm left its Fleet Street location.
- 1856
Partnership with Frederick Daldy
[1]The firm entered a partnership with Frederick Daldy and began trading as Bell & Daldy.
- 1854
Acquisition of J. & J. J. Deighton
[1]Bell acquired the Cambridge bookseller J. & J. J. Deighton, which became associated with the name Deighton, Bell, & Company.
- 1839
George Bell establishes the business
[1]George Bell founded the London educational bookselling and publishing business at 1 Bouverie Street.
Products and positioning
An independent British educational and literary publisher combining practical instructional books with scholarly classics, children's literature, poetry, and illustrated works in the arts and humanities.
Educational publishing · 1839
Educational books
Educational publishing was the firm's original commercial focus. Its catalogue included instructional and reference works intended for schools, students, and general learners. This foundation remained important as the company expanded into literary, scientific, mathematical, and classical publishing.
Classical and literary publishing
Classics and literary scholarship
George Bell & Sons became known for editions of classical and literary works, including poetry and critical scholarship. Its list combined accessible editions with more specialized publications for readers and researchers interested in English literature, ancient texts, and literary history.
Poetry series
Aldine Edition of British Poets
Published during the Bell & Daldy period, the Aldine Edition of British Poets was a major poetry series that reflected the firm's role in making established British literary works available in organized, edited editions.
Children's publishing · 1854
Children's literature
The company expanded into children's publishing in the 1850s. Its list included works associated with Margaret Gatty, including Parables from Nature, and material connected with Juliana Horatia Ewing and the Nursery Magazine.
Arts and humanities publishing
Books on art, architecture, and archaeology
The firm's arts and humanities list covered art history, architecture, and archaeology. A notable publication was Giorgio Vasari's Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, issued over the period 1855–1864.
Travel and transport guides · 1839
Railway Companions
Railway Companions were among the firm's earliest publishing investments. The series consisted of timetable booklets and tourist guides, linking the company's early bookselling operation to the expanding market for railway travel information.
Brand decisions
1986
Merge Bell & Hyman with George Allen & UnwinM&ABackground
After more than a century of operation and a later Bell & Hyman identity, the company pursued a combination with another established British publisher.
Action taken
Bell & Hyman merged with George Allen & Unwin to create Unwin Hyman.
Aftermath
The independent George Bell publishing business ended, and its successor was acquired by HarperCollins in 1990.
1856
Form partnership with Frederick DaldyStrategyBackground
The growing publishing list and expansion beyond educational bookselling created an opportunity to strengthen the firm's literary and scholarly programme.
Action taken
George Bell entered into partnership with Frederick Daldy, and the business adopted the Bell & Daldy name.
Aftermath
The partnership was associated with poetry, literary editions, Webster's Dictionary rights, and the acquisition of Henry George Bohn's libraries before ending in 1873.
Sources2 sources
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