Newbery, John (1713-1767), was an English publisher and bookseller. He is famous in the history of children’s literature as the first person to print and sell books for children. He published A Little Pretty Pocket-Book (1744) and The History of Little Goody-Two-Shoes (1765) and many other little volumes bound in “flowery gilt,” a colorful paper from the Netherlands. Many of his books were reprinted in America between 1749 and 1831.
Newbery’s bookshop, The Bible and Sun, was in St. Paul’s Churchyard, London. He was the friend and patron of Oliver Goldsmith, Samuel Johnson, and many other literary people of his day. Goldsmith portrayed Newbery in his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766). It is believed that Goldsmith wrote some of the quaint penny books published by Newbery. These little books are now highly prized.
Newbery was born in Berkshire. He died on Dec. 22, 1767. The Newbery Medal, which has been awarded each year since 1922 for the finest children’s book written by an American, was named for him (see Newbery Medal ).
