Benjamin de la Fontaine d.1734

Benjamin DE LA FONTAINE d.1734

De La Fontaine's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection 8396)

Biographical Note

Presumably a successful London merchant of Huguenot descent; his will places him in the parish of St Martin Orgar, London, refers to his counting house, ships, and property in Portsmouth, and estimates the financial value of his estate at £5500.

Books

De La Fontaine used an engraved armorial bookplate (Franks 8396). The extent of his library is not known; in his will, he directed that his "plate furniture books pictures etc" be appraised for sale, but that his wife be allowed to keep £300-worth of these (or more, "if she pleases", on condition that she accounted to the estate for anything above that value).

Sources

• Will of Benjamin de la Fontaine, The National Archives PROB 11/666/282.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903.