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.
Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1972. iv, 57pp. One of 200 copies. A no-nonsense guide to Greek grammar, intended to "smooth the student's way and enliven his task at the start." In the Preface, the author thanks Glen Dawson for his generous contribution of twenty dollars, which allowed for the..... More
Worcester, MA: Achille J. St. Onge, 1973. 55pp. The text is printed with large ornamental initials in red by Joh. Enschedé en Zonen. In a striking designer binding by Stephen Conway, evoking ancient wood and stone. Conway writes that his bindings "have a tactile quality, in keeping with the three..... More
(Watertown, MA): Anne and David Bromer, 1977. (24)pp. The text is printed on Japanese paper with ornamentation in green. Wood engravings by Sarah Chamberlain, as her first miniature book commission. This is the first miniature book published by the Bromers. Midori Kunikata-Cockram captures the whimsical nature of the text, which..... More
NY: David Bryce & Son / Frederick A. Stokes, (c. 1890). 386pp., printed double size to be read in "landscape" orientation. One of Bryce's earliest miniature books, printed at the Glasgow University Press, and this from its issuance under the American Stokes imprint. Bound in full pale blue cloth with..... More
NY: David Bryce & Son / Frederick A. Stokes Company, (1896). 860pp. Over a million copies are said to have been sold of the various editions, of which this is one of the number published by Bryce for American distribution by Stokes. Frontispiece portrait of Samuel Johnson. In a variant..... More
Paris: Marcilly, (c. 1840). 96pp. Printed by Firmin Didot, but with a Marcilly imprint. With engraved half-title and five plates, the finely executed illustrations depict scenes from the life of Christ. The prayers are arranged for special occasions: morning prayers, evening prayer, and prayers for communion and vespers. This tiny..... More
Paris: Didot, Typographie de Firmin, (c. 1810). 124pp. Eight engravings on beige paper. The absurd adventures of Pierrot, born from a turkey's egg to La Fee Gourmande, and dedicated to gourmandise from that moment on, until his gluttony proves too much and dooms him. In a later binding of brown..... More
Paris: Didot, Firmin, (c. 1835). 80pp. A beautiful children's prayer book, illustrated with five engraved plates and an engraved title page. The plates depict scenes from the life of Christ to inspire fervent young readers. These were put out over time in various bindings, but this copy is bound in..... More
(Dijon: Marchet & Roux, 1897). 191pp. This elegant book of prayers to the Virgin Mary is illustrated with an engraved frontispiece of the nativity. Printed by Firmin-Didot in black and red with red rules. Gilt floral decoration on the interior with blue and gold paste-downs. Some minor creasing to several..... More
(Essen): Hans Gerd Goldschmidt, 1979. 124pp. One of 500 copies. A selection of fables, rendered in German and illustrated with eight woodcuts. Bound in gilt-stamped brown leather with a printed dust wrapper and paper slipcase. Very fine. (2 1/4 by 1 5/8; 57x41mm). More
(Boston): Anne and David Bromer, 1986. (15), (15)ff. From an edition of 160 copies, bound together here are one of the thirty-five deluxe copies with hand-illuminated initials in gold and colors by Suzanne Moore, and one of the 125 regular copies. Both are A.P. copies, indicated in Moore's calligraphy on..... More
Philadelphia: Fisher & Bro. (c. 1865). 192pp. Illustrated with frontispiece and five engravings. A miscellany of tales historical, moral, and informative. Slight wear to extremities and fading to spine; else fine in embossed, red cloth-covered boards. (2 3/16 by 2; 56x50mm). More
Philadelphia: Fisher & Bro. (c. 1865). 192pp. Illustrated with frontispiece and seven engravings. Addressed to parents and Sunday School teachers, this instructive miniature was meant to “teach children important lessons of religious, historical, and political truth,” describing the establishment of the Hebrew people as a nation with an essentially Republican..... More
Philadelphia, New York: Fisher & Brother, (c. 1850). 192 pp. The Bible as told for children, illustrated throughout with full-page plates, including a full-page frontispiece. Authored by "a Lady of Cincinnati." Bound in variant red cloth listed in Adomeit, blind-stamped to front and rear covers, gilt-stamped on spine with "The..... More
(Wakefield, W. Yorkshire): Fleece Press, (1991). (28)ff. One of 290 copies. Illustrated with etchings by Anthony Christmas. Written by master binder Angela James, this attractive little book summarizes the history of binding, with a glossary. Bound in bright patterned cloth, with a printed label. Bookplate. (2 1/16 by 2 7/8;..... More
(Wakefield, W. Yorkshire): Fleece Press, (1991). (28)ff. One of 290 copies. Illustrated with etchings by Anthony Christmas. Written by master binder Angela James, this attractive little book summarizes the history of binding, with a glossary. Bound in bright patterned cloth, with a printed label. Bookplate. (2 1/16 by 2 7/8;..... More
Woolley, England: Fleece Press, 1986. 28pp. One of 250 copies bound in cloth. Illustrated with nine engravings taken from the original blocks by artists Joan Hassall, Monica Poole, George Mackley, and others. A couple of the illustrations relate to the art of printing. Extremely fine in patterned Liberty cloth with..... More
NY: B. Shackman & Co., Inc., 1993. (40)ff. A charming flip book, in which a daring roadster jumps over a bus and six other cars. Bound in illustrated wrappers, all black and white. Minor rubbing to edges and few spots of foxing to top edge, else near fine. (1 1/2..... More
Hong Kong: Ford Press, 1968. 108pp. First edition. One of 500 copies, signed by Alla T. Ford on the colophon. An article first published in "The Book-Lover's Answer" in July 1965. Illustrated throughout in black & white. Fine in gilt-titled blue cloth. (2 3/8 by 1 15/16; 61x49mm). More
(N.p. c. 1922). Set of eight cards, printed in red, along with a rules sheet. The cards form a drinking game; all are dealt to a group of eight, and each player must follow the pictorial instruction on the card placed before them. Five cards show a single cocktail, indicating..... More
N.p. Garcia de Fuentes Press, n.d. 12ff. One of 200 copies. Illustrated with color images throughout. Bound in printed mylar over wrappers. Fine. (2 3/4 by 2; 70x51mm). More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1986. (22)pp. One of 300 copies. A short story by Barnett, employing the use of Scottish dialect, and illustrated with generic scenes of country life. Bound in full blue-green cloth over boards with cover title in gilt. Fine. (2 by 1 1/2; 51x37mm). More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1987. (iv), 240pp. One of 500 copies. Signed by the printer/binder, Ian Macdonald. A special miniature reprint of the "Kilmarnock" edition of Burns' work, which appeared in 1786. Bound in full blue leather with silver spine titling. Housed in publisher's acrylic box with original title card..... More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1978. (28)ff. One of 500 copies. With portraits of Robert Burns and others. Between these are highlights of Burns' compendium of work, including "To a Mouse" and "Address to a Haggis". Pictorial endpapers and printed boards. Fine in a fine pictorial dust wrapper. Bookplate of former..... More
(N.p.): 1976. Three volumes. 22pp.; (14)ff.; (16)ff. With hand-colored illustrations by Amanda Goldman. The first title contains pictures of columbine, water lily, larkspur, and other species. The second volume features vibrant renditions of the chickadee, owl, and other birds. Dolls and Doll Houses is separated into two parts, representing the..... More
