In 1848, at the age of 24, Thin went into business for himself. He purchased the assets of a Mr. Rickard, a bookseller who was in financial difficulties. Rickard's shop was at 14 Infirmary Street, where he had recently moved from 55 South Bridge. Thin started trading at the Infirmary Street premises on 3 April, trading under his own name (the business only became James Thin Ltd in the 1970s).
