When you hold a miniature book in your hand, it is like holding a jewel. A miniature book is usually no bigger than three inches (76 millimeters) tall, and although some need magnification to be viewed properly, most can be read with the naked eye. Dating as far back as 2500 BCE, Sumerian clay tablets with cuneiform writing are considered the prototype for miniature books ...
Read more about Miniature Books
Our miniature books are listed below. You may also browse our miniature books by publisher or by century.
(Van Nuys, CA): Raheb, Barbara J., 1984. Two volumes, housed in a tiny wooden box with a sliding lid. On the lid is a pictorial printed label. The two volumes are: The Sugar Plum Tree. Poems by Eugene Field. (16)ff. From an edition of 300 copies, this is one of..... More
(Van Nuys, CA: Raheb, Barbara J., 1980). 35pp. Second edition. From an edition of 300 numbered copies signed by Barbara Raheb, this is one of an unknown number of hand-colored copies. With five full-page illustrations and three decorations, all delicately colored by Raheb. Bound in gilt-stamped black pyroxylin, with a...... More
(Van Nuys, CA: Raheb, Barbara J., 1981. (84)pp. One of 300 numbered copies, signed by Barbara Raheb. With black & white illustrations throughout. Some wear to spine and front board, else near fine in gilt-stamped blue leather. Bookplate to front paste-down. (Bradbury, p. 211). (15/16 by 3/4; 24x18mm). More
(Tarzana, CA): Raheb, Barbara J., 1982. 45pp. One of 300 numbered copies signed by Raheb. With six hand-colored illustrations and title-page vignette. Minor bowing to boards, else fine in brown pyroxylin-backed cork boards, with printed label, and marbled endpapers. (Bradbury, p. 212). (1 11/16 by 1 1/4; 43x31mm). More
(Tarzana, CA): Raheb, Barbara J., 1984. (22)ff. One of 300 copies, signed by the author, illustrator, and publisher Barbara Raheb. Frontispiece illustration of a medieval banquet, and the text is a facsimile of Raheb's own manuscript-style calligraphy. This miniature cookbook provides insight into the tastes and traditions of the Middle..... More
(N.p.): Raheb, Barbara J., 1984. (34)pp. One of 100 numbered copies, signed by Raheb. Illustrated title page hand-colored, with twelve black & white head- and tailpieces. A book of twelve carols, with staves of music printed in red and black. Split in textblock, else near fine in red pyroxylin, which..... More
(Van Nuys, CA: Raheb, Barbara J., 1981). (72)pp. One of 300 numbered copies. With black & white illustrations throughout. Fine in a variant binding of gilt-stamped white cloth. Bookplate to front paste-down. (Bradbury, p. 213). (1 by 3/4; 25x18mm). More
Hyattsville, MD: Rebecca Press, 1988. 38pp. One of 300 copies. This is “the third in a set of three fairy tales in which roses are significant story elements.” Designed by Rebecca Bingham, who signed the colophon, and printed by Darrell Hyder under the imprint of the Rebecca Press. Illustrated with..... More
Hyattsville, MD: Rebecca Press, 1988. 38pp. One of 300 copies. This is “the third in a set of three fairy tales in which roses are significant story elements.” Designed by Rebecca Bingham, who signed the colophon, and printed by Darrell Hyder under the imprint of the Rebecca Press. Illustrated with..... More
(Hyattsville, MD): Rebecca Press, 1983. 118pp. One of 150 copies. Illustrated with whimsical wood-engravings by Sarah Chamberlain. Designed by Rebecca Bingham, who signed the colophon. Published in the bicentennial year of the birth of Washington Irving. Bound in blue cloth with paper label. Very fine. (2 3/8 by 2 15/16..... More
Florence: Ricci, Gaspero, 1838. 401pp. Engraved frontispiece and five full-page engravings distributed throughout. A miniature edition of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Hours of the Virgin, a liturgical devotion in imitation of and performed in addition to the Divine Office. For each division..... More
Baltimore: Xavier Press, 1993. 19pp. A timeless essay by Lewis Carroll on the art of correspondence, illustrated with two pasted-in postage stamps promoting letter-writing and a fold-out sample of a letter by the author. In a designer binding by Dominic Riley featuring gilt-tooled envelopes and abstracted stamps in onlays of..... More
Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1968. 103pp. One of 400 copies printed by Grabhorn-Hoyem. This was to have been the last book designed by Bruce Rogers begun in his 87th year, but the corrected page proofs did not reach him until the day of his death in 1957. They gathered..... More
Evanston, IL: Schori Press, (1965). 45pp. One of 500 copies. Nostalgic snippets of poetry by various authors, from Shakespeare to A. E. Housman. The page numbers and other little accents are printed in turquoise. Very fine in black boards with gold decoration. (1 3/4 by 2 1/4; 44x55mm). More
Evanston, IL: Schori Press, (1990). (20)ff. Signed by Ward Schori. A classic French story with a twist. Fine in black velvet boards, with a gilt design and a jewel in the center. (2 9/16 by 2 1/4; 66x57mm). More
Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1977. (16)ff. From an edition of 250 copies illustrated in color by Marcie Collin and printed by Carol Cunningham, this copy is in a designer binding by Sonya Sheats. Evoking the fierce battle between the Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat, the artist envisioned "a..... More
(Bexhill, Sussex): Silver Thimble Books, 1983. (42)pp. One of 500 copies signed by the author/artist. A comic, verse retelling of a familiar fairy tale, illustrated with line drawings. Very fine in cloth with pictorial label. (2 1/8 by 1 5/8; 54x43mm). More
Dallas: Somesuch Press, 1978. 32pp. One of 300 copies signed by the printer, Andrew Hoyem. Lovingly wrapped gift mint in boards printed with a Christmas pattern with green and red holly and tied with red and gold ribbon. (3 1/8 by 2 1/8 in.; 79 x 53 mm). More
Dallas, TX: Somesuch Press, 1979. 57pp. One of 300 copies. Signed by the designer, Carl Hertzog. Facsimile of the 1831 edition of this story of a child held captive by Native Americans, told by an English writer. Contains facsimiles of the frontispiece and title-page of the original edition, plus four..... More
(Dallas): Somesuch Press, 1987. 143pp. One of 250 copies printed at the Meriden-Stinehour Press, signed by the author, Paul Horgan, and the printer, Stephen Stinehour. Illustrated throughout in sepia, and with a color frontispiece. A southwestern Christmas tale. Extremely fine in gilt-decorated red cloth. (Bradbury, p. 282). (2 5/8 by..... More
Dallas: Somesuch Press, 1984. 53pp. One of 300 sopies. A portrait of Gossage prefaces the text. A collection of memories and reflections on Gossage's persona and character, by Herb Caen, Jessica Mitford, and Gossage himself. Bound in full black leather with gilt stamping. Fine. (2 7/8 by 2 7/16; 73x62mm)..... More
(England: 1935). A seven-page fold-out panorama containing portraits of Queen Mary and George V, as a commemoration of the Silver Jubilee in 1935. Housed in an amber-toned plastic box with silver cover on the front, incised and crafted with a portrait and titling. Fine. (1 3/8 by 1 1/16; 35x28mm)..... More
Worcester: St. Onge, Achille J., 1953. 77pp. One of 2,000 copies. Printed at the Chiswick Press in red and black type. With a black & white frontispiece portrait of the Queen. Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full red morocco, with gilt stamping to covers including double-rule borders. Paste-downs and..... More
Worcester, Massachusetts: St. Onge, Achille J., 1953. 77pp. From an edition of 2,000 copies, this is one of forty-six bound in 1960 with a variant frontispiece portrait of Elizabeth II in profile. Printed at the Chiswick Press in red and black type. Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full red..... More
Worcester, Massachusetts: Achille J. St. Onge, 1965. 70pp. One of 1,250 copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece of the Arms of King John. Printed in Holland by Enschedé in Eric Gill's Perpetua type. Bound in beige leather with gilt-stamped title and blind-tooled decorative border on the front cover. Decorative endpapers. A.e.g...... More
