James Thin

James Thin was until 2002 the principal academic bookshop in Edinburgh, Scotland, with its main premises near the University of Edinburgh in Infirmary Street. It also had branches in other cities, including Perth and Dundee.

The firm was founded by James Thin (1824-1915), taking over the assets of an earlier bookseller. The business grew and expanded, and brought James Thin a significant role in Edinburgh intellectual society. The author Muriel Spark wrote all her novels on 72-page notebooks from James Thin. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/books/97/05/11/reviews/spark-onlyproblem.html New York Times article on Muriel Spark] ]

The firm developed branches in George Street, The Gyle, Buccleuch Street and the King's Buildings, Heriot-Watt University, Napier University, and Queen Margaret University, as well as Crichton College in Dumfries and University of Huddersfield, and also school bookshops at Fettes College, Merchiston Castle School and Edinburgh Academy.

In January 2002 the business went into administration. The company's general bookstores were sold in March 2002 to another chain, Ottakar's, and in April 2002 the publishing division Mercat Press was bought out by its management, and the rest of the business sold to Blackwell's of Oxford.

The accounts, administrative and staff records of the firm are deposited in the National Library of Scotland (Acc. 12384). [ [http://www.nls.uk/collections/manuscripts/news/index.html National Library of Scotland, Manuscript News] ]

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