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.
![Item #30744 The History of Reynard the Fox [The Tormenting of Tibert]. Christopher Harrisson, trans](/pictures/thumb/30744.jpg?v=1636652482)
Zuilichem: Catharijne Press, 1991. 56pp. From an edition of 190 copies, this is one of fifteen deluxe copies with an extra wood engraving. Frontispiece engraving by Pam Rueter, signed and numbered by the artist. Extra engraving also signed and numbered, and held in a mat in a separate cloth bi-fold..... More
(Los Angeles): William Cheney, 1975. (30)ff. The famous verse from "A Apple Pie, B Bit It, C Cut It," etc. is illustrated with large calligraphic-style letters in this micro-miniature book. It is the smallest book printed in California and was executed by William Cheney for Dawson's Book Shop. A very..... More
(N.p.): Cherub Press, 1987. (8)ff., frenchfold. One of 100 copies. The legend of the creation of woman, printed on Rakusai paper toned in several colors, and with a hand-colored frontispiece by Kim Butcher. Sewn oriental-style into pale blue wrappers, and housed in a slipcase. Fine, with some edgewear to slipcase..... More
(Solihull, UK: Cherub Press, 1996). (10)pp., + 6 samples of Japanese papers. One of 95 copies. The paper specimens exemplify some of the major styles of Japanese papers, including Chiyogami, Suminagashi, lace-paper, and Kimburi Tairei paper. Butcher's text is a concise and accessible outline of the various methods employed in..... More
Belgrade: 1978. Two volumes. 134; 134pp. One of 1000 copies. Full text in Hungarian, Russian, English, and German. The story of a suspenseful series of championship chess games, with a complete list of the moves and many photographs. The two volumes are identical, except that one is half the size..... More
London: Religious Tract Society, (c. 1840). 128pp. Eight edition. Printed at the Chiswick Press. Prayers and devotions for each portion of the day, followed by the text of a hymn written by Bishop Kenn. Bound in brown leather adorned with fine gilt stamping to covers and dentelles. Trace points of..... More
Boston: Bromer, Anne & David, 1984. 14pp. One of 200 copies printed by Rez' Lingen at the Poote Press and signed by her. First edition of Clemens's humorous contribution to an autograph book presented to Mrs. Grover Cleveland in 1889 in appreciation of her support for an international copyright law..... More
Manteno, IL: Bronte Press, 1986. (16)pp. One of 100 copies, signed by the printer and illustrator, Suzanne Granzow-Pruchnicki. Replete with hand-colored illustrations, which accompany recipes for dishes mentioned in Dickens' writings, such as Onion Pudding and the Wassail Bowl. Fine in full red leather. (2 13/16 by 2 1/8; 71x55)..... More
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
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, 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 contemporary binding: full blue-green..... 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
Van Nuys: Hoffman, Richard J., 1988. 82pp. One of 250 copies signed by the printer. Text first published in 1921. The type ornaments chosen by Hoffman are arranged chronologically by designer (Garamond, Granjon, Rogers) and printed in color. The introduction refers to the printer's late friend, who insisted that the..... More
Paris: Janet, (1786). 24, 24pp., + engraved title page and 12ff. engravings. An almanac for 1787, with the customary data on moon phases and eclipses (these indicated by quaint interlinear illustrations) and saints' days. Inserted within the almanac pages are verses of love poetry, each with an engraved illustration highlighting..... More
London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, (c. 1870). (320)pp. The entirety of the Book of Psalms, handsomely printed. Bound in a black leather wallet with gilt titling at flap. Inconsequential and mild exterior wear, else near fine. A.e.g. Bookplate of Stanley Marcus. (2 5/8 by 2 1/4; 69x55mm). 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
West Yorkshire: Fleece Press, 2002. (64)ff. One of 285 copies. A reprint of Thomas Churchyard's 1588 ode to papermaking, printed on handmade paper and illustrated with numerous engravings by Anthony Christmas depicting the process of the craft. Bound in green, printed paper-covered boards. Fine. (3 by 1 3/4; 76x45mm). 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
(Wakefield, W. Yorkshire: Fleece Press, 1989). 38pp. One of 200 copies signed by the author, Ward Ritchie, and by the printer, Simon Lawrence. Engravings by Anthony Christmas. A brief history of private presses, along with the memoirs of a master printer who learned his trade in the Thirties in Paris..... More
