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.
Agoura Hills: Pennyweight Press, 1992. 32pp. One of 50-100 copies (not specified), signed by the illustrator, Barbara Raheb. This ancient counting song dates to a 13th-century manuscript housed at Cambridge University. It first appeared as a children's book in the year 1790. The reader joins in a medieval Christmas celebration... More about The Twelve Days of Christmas
(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 about Christmas Treasury
(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 about Canterbury Tales
(Tarzana, CA: Raheb, Barbara J., 1981). 88pp. One of 300 copies, signed and numbered by Barbara Raheb. With a black & white frontispiece and title-page vignette. Fine in dark blue gilt-stamped pyroxylin. Top edge stained red. Bookplate to front paste-down. (Bradbury, p. 211). (15/16 by 3/4; 24x19mm). More about The Man Without a Country
(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 about The Fish Patrol
(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 about Ms. Found in a Bottle
(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 about Liber Culinaria
(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 about Chansons de Noel
(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 about The Unicorn Book
Hyattsville, MD: Rebecca Press, 1988. 38pp. From an edition 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... More about Rosanella
(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. Bookplate of former owner. (Bradbury... More about The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
(Hyattsville, MD): Rebecca Press, 1991. (18)ff. A special edition published to mark the birth of a daughter to the printer, Rebecca Bingham. Fine in blue and white handmade paper boards, with a birth announcement tipped-onto the front cover. (2 1/2 by 2 7/8; 63x74mm). More about Excerpts from Adam's Diary
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 about Ufizio della B. V. Maria
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 about Wise Words about Letter Writing
London: Rock Brothers and Payne, (c. 1848-1859). 144pp. This later edition serves as one of a number of "Bijou Series," also found under the imprint of Rock & Co. Slightly larger than the dimensions recorded by Adomeit. Very mild bowing to rear cover, else a bright and fine copy in... More about The Bijou Bible. Fourth Edition
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 about Miniature Books
Philadelphia: Running Press, 1994. 144, 14pp. Fine in green paper-covered boards and a fine dust jacket. A thimble is attached to the end of a woven ribbon bookmark. (3 5/16 by 2 7/8; 84x72mm). More about Quilting: Quotations Celebrating an American Legacy
Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library, (1968). 39pp. One of 500 copies printed by Grant Dahlstrom and bound by Bela Blau. The only miniature book published by the Santa Barbara Mission Archive-Library. Fine in tan leather. Bookplate. (Bradbury p. 256). (2 by 1 5/8; 50x40mm). More about The Symbolism of the Santa Barbara Presidio
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 about Memories. An Anthology
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 about The False Gems
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 about Le Chien Guingan et le Chat Calicot
(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 about One Dancing Princess
Dallas: Somesuch Press, 1980. 62pp. One of 300 copies, signed by the author, Daniel J. Boorstin, the illustrator, Dianne Weiss, and the printers, Susan Acker and Don Greame Kelley. With illustrations throughout printed in orange. A lovely production from the Somesuch Press, bound in buff cloth. Bookplate of former owner... More about Gresham's Law: Knowledge or Information?
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 about Little Manuel, The Captive Boy
(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 3; 67x77mm). More about The Saintmaker's Christmas Eve
