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.
Boston: Bromer, Anne & David, 1981. (36)pp. One of 115 copies. Signed by Linnea Gentry of the Amaranth Press, who printed and illustrated the book. Printed in two colors. An extremely fine copy in violet pastepaper boards with title stamped in silver to front cover, author to spine. Prospectus laid..... More
Utrecht, The Netherlands: Catharijne Press, 1984. 20pp. One of 100 copies, with an artistic photogravure frontispiece by Johan de Zoete, which is signed and numbered. The two poems are "To Helen," and "Annabel Lee." Extremely fine oblong miniature; the first published by Catharijne Press. Bound in black morocco with a...... 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
(Berkeley, CA): Poole Press, 1988. (13)ff. One of 75 copies, signed by Maryline Poole Adams. The illustrator meets the challenge of depicting the Bisky Bat, the Fimble Fowl, the Pobble who has no toes, and all of Edward Lear's other characters through the medium of woodcuts. Very fine in patterned..... More
(Vienna): K.K. Hofbibliothek, (1912). 22; (126)pp. A facsimile of Viennese printer Ludwig Bonnoberger's famous prayer book of 1607, presented to a gathering of bibliophiles at the Imperial Court Library in September 1912. Bound in buff cloth with interwoven silver threads. All edges are gilt and gauffered, with two indented circles..... More
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1983. (61)pp. First edition of Gorey's first miniature book. Of 400 copies, this is one of 300 comprising the regular edition, signed by Gorey. The text is an alphabet of short humorous couplets patterned after early moral primers for children, as in "Find tasks to..... More
London: Field & Tuer; Simpkin; Hamilton, 1884. 146, (16)pp. Comprises the miniature version of Quads for Authors, Editors, & Devils as well as the "enlarged edition." A book of jokes relating to printers, with a sixteen-page glossary. Quads, explains the preface, are "little metal blanks used by the printer for..... More
(Tarzana, CA): Raheb, Barbara J., 1984. (28)pp. One of 300 copies signed by Barbara Raheb, who calligraphed and illustrated the text of what was a medieval illuminated manuscript. The borders of each page are colored gold. Bound in gilt-decorated black pyroxylin leather, with title in gilt to a red morocco..... More
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
(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
(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
(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
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
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
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, (1965). 45pp. One of 150 copies bound by J. Diez. Nostalgic snippets of poetry by various authors, from Shakespeare to A. E. Housman. The page numbers and other little accents are printed in turquoise. Bound in purple morocco with gilt-outlined floral image at upper cover. Faded..... 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: Schori Press, 1965. viii, 47pp., frenchfold. From an edition of 600 copies, this is one of 500 on Bible paper. Illustrated by Andre Chappaz and Ron Solms. Text, including an Introduction, printed in brown and drawings in ochre. Fine in dark blue morocco, painted and gilt-tooled to show a...... More
