John Betts (?1803 - 1889)

Betts was a London bookseller, publisher of maps, atlases, globes, games and stationary. Born in Islington, London about 1803 and apprenticed to William Darton. His apprenticeship premium of fifteen pounds was given by the Quakers of Devonshire House and thirty pounds paid by instalments by the Committee of Friends School, Islington Road. He was elected Fellow Royal Geographical Society in 1839. In 1856 he was granted a patent for improvements in the preparation or manufacture of artificial spheres and again in 1858 for improvements in obtaining surfaces on which to print maps and other designs. He published A Family Atlas and the series, Sixpenny Maps.

He was retired by 1881.