Thomas Payne facts for kids
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Thomas Payne (born around 1718 – died in 1799) was a very important bookseller and publisher in London during the 1700s. He helped share many books and ideas with people.
Contents
Thomas Payne's Early Life
Thomas Payne was born in a town called Brackley in Northamptonshire, England. We don't know much about his early years.
His Famous Bookshop
Starting in 1750, Thomas Payne opened his own bookshop. It was located at Mews Gate in Castle Street, close to a place called Leicester Fields. Today, the famous National Gallery stands where his shop used to be.
Even though his shop was quite small, it became very popular. Many famous writers and thinkers of the time loved to visit it.
A Hub for Ideas
Payne's bookshop was often called the "Literary Coffee House." It was more than just a place to buy books. During the day, it became a meeting spot, almost like a club. People would gather there to talk about all sorts of topics and share their ideas.
Some of the well-known people who visited his shop included George Steevens, Thomas Crofts, John Hoole, and Thomas Tyrwhitt. They were all important figures in the world of books and learning.
What Were Sale Catalogues?
Like many booksellers back then, Thomas Payne regularly created "sale catalogues." These were like printed lists of all the books he had for sale. Today, these old catalogues are very helpful. They tell us a lot about:
- How much books cost in the 1700s.
- Which books were popular at the time.
- How books were bound and made.
- Other interesting facts about the history of books.
Family and Later Years
Thomas Payne's daughter, Sarah, married a naval officer named James Burney. James was the brother of a famous writer named Frances Burney. Interestingly, Thomas Payne had even published some of Frances Burney's books!
In 1790, Thomas Payne decided to retire. He moved to Finchley, a town in north London. His son, also named Thomas Payne (born 1752, died 1831), took over the family business. Thomas Payne was buried at St. Mary’s church in Finchley.
