Olive Payne

Identifiers

Occupations

  • Bookseller
  • Book Binder
  • Publisher

Names

  • Oliver Payne
  • Olive Payne

Olive Payne, bookseller, at the Bible and at Horace's Head, both in New Round Court, opposite the York Buildings in the Strand (1727–39); at Horace's Head in Popes's Head Alley, Cornhill, over against the Royal Exchange (1740–50). The first imprint bearing the shop name "the Bible" in Round Court was published in 1727. Payne began identifying his shop as "Horace's Head" in 1734.

Olive Payne, at the Bible in New-Round Court in the Strand.—Daily Post 2642, Monday,  March 11, 1728

Olive Payne, the Sign of the Bible, in Round-Court in the Strand, opposite to York-Buildings.—Daily Journal 3125, Monday, January 11, 1731

Olive Payne, at Horace’s Head in Round Court in the Strand.—Daily Journal 4054, Monday, January 14, 1734

Olive Payne, at Horace’s Head in Round-Court, opposite York Buildings in the Strand.—Daily Gazetteer 153, Wednesday,  December 24, 1735

Olive Payne, Bookseller, At Horace's Head in New Round-Court in the Strand.—Daily Post 5845 Monday,  June 5, 1738

A Dictionary of the Printers and Booksellers who were at work in England, Scotland and Ireland from 1726 to 1775, by Henry Plomer et al. (1932)

PAYNE (OLIVER), bookseller in London, Horace's Head, Round Court, Strand, 1733–9. Son of Oliver and Martha Payne of Brackley, Northamptonshire, and brother of Thomas Payne. According to Timperley (1842, p. 799), who, however, gives no authority for his statement, this bookseller received an annuity from the Marquis of Douglas for a manuscript said to have been stolen from the Vatican. He is also said to have been the first bookseller to print catalogues. He advertised in 1735 "To sell books at the prices marked". [Daily Journal, January 13th, 1735.] His brother Thomas was for some years his assistant; but Oliver Payne got into serious financial difficulties and was adjudged bankrupt in March 1738/9, whereupon Thomas Payne set up for himself at Charing Cross.

Notes & Queries "London Booksellers Series" (1931–2)

PAYNE, O. He was carrying on the business of a bookseller at Horace's Head, in Pope's Head Alley, Cornhill, in the year 1750.

—Frederick T. Wood, 26 September 1931

 

PAYNE, OLIVE. We may give the name of this man from an oblique reference to him in Timperley (p. 799), and from the auction sale catalogue of his stock, dated 12 April, 1739, which is described as that of "Mr. Olive Payne, bankrupt." Timnerley's footnote is to the effect that a book, which had been stolen from the Vatican, found its way into his hands. It is possible that this is the O. Payne that DR. WOOD records as being at Horace's Head, Pope's Head Alley, Cornhill, in 1750.

—Ambrose Heal, 21 November 1931

 

PAYNE, OLIVE (or OLLIVE) (clxi. 220, 365). A definite address can now be given for this bookseller. He was at Horace's Head near Round Court, over against York Buildings in the Strand in 1732 and 1734. Ollive (sic) Payne is referred to in the recently published 'Purofoy Letters' under date 1735. In 1734 he published Charles Johnson's 'History of the Lives and Actions of the most famous Highwaymen, Murderers, etc.' and also 'Memoirs of Count Bonnebal.' He was the elder brother of "honest Tom Payne" who succeeded him about 1740. I have not been fortunate enough to find any record of the O. Payne at Horace's Head in Pope's Head Alley in 1750 who has been given by DR. WOOD.

—Ambrose Heal, 13 February 1932