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.
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: 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
Paris: Didot, Typographie de Firmin, (c. 1810). 125pp., + (8)ff. 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. An extremely rare cautionary..... 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
San Rafael, CA: Feathered Serpent Press, 1988. (18)ff. One of 190 copies, signed by Susan Acker, the printer. With five postage stamps illustrated with stage coaches tipped-in. Reprinted from "The Sketch Book" (1820). Very fine in pink-printed boards, with matching pictorial endpapers. (2 9/16 by 2 1/8; 66x53mm). More
Mill Valley, CA: Figment Press, (n.d.). (12)ff. One of 150 copies signed by the printer/illustrator Diane Weiss. Printed in red and black, with type ornaments in blue, a "Smokey the Bear" postage stamp tipped-in, and delightful hand-colored pictures. As the bear grows up, the type and the pages increase in..... More
Kadan, Czech Republic: Jana Pribikova, 2015. (38)pp. One of six copies. Signed by Pribikova at the colophon. A concise history of Dutch windmills, with information on their locations, energy production, and various types. Delightfully bound in green morocco with red, yellow, and purple leather strips inlaid on spine over exposed..... 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
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
(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
Tustin, CA: Garden View Press, (1969). 57pp., frenchfold. One of 200 copies with color illustrations by Warren Batchelder. "Kwaidan," in Japanese, means "weird, haunting tales," and the two stories included tell the tales of a ghostly, shape-shifting priest and a mysterious woman, dressed in white, encountered in a snowstorm. Stab-sewn..... 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
(London): Goode Bros. c. 1875. (47)pp. Illustrated throughout with black & white lithographs, this little book includes excerpts from several Old Testament stories. In dark violet gilt-stamped wrappers. An unusually fine copy. (Bondy 162). (2 1/4 by 1 5/8; 58x40mm). More
(Berkeley): Rasmussen Press, 1974. 81pp. One of 200 copies, this one being an unnumbered gift edition inscribed "To Doris- In memory of K.G." Illustrated with five sets of verses and drawings compiled by Lucile Rasmussen from those published in the Ladies' Home Journal, which were never published in book form..... More
London: Grant Richards, 1904. 103pp. A comical miniature illustrating the inhabitants of London and poking fun at everyone from the telegraph boy to the sentry at Buckingham Palace. Full-page color plates by the famous British poster artist and illustrator John Hassall are accompanied by rhyming verses. In a limerick about..... More
(Vancouver): Heavenly Monkey, 2004. 20ff. One of 55 copies. A near-miniature flipbook printed on the rectos only, produced as a Christmas keepsake for subscribers of Heavenly Monkey, illustrated with a flying dove by Kara Sievewright. The instructions direct the reader to "Flip the bird," which, when followed, cause the dove..... More
Vancouver, BC: Heavenly Monkey, (2013). (20)ff. One of twenty-six lettered copies. A miniature book made from off-cuts of paper samples that were used for Heavenly Monkey's book Paper Should Not Always Be White. In keeping with that book's theme, the papers included are shades of white, tan, blue, and green..... More
Vancouver: Heavenly Monkey, 2004. (2)pp, (26)ff. One of fifty copies. A tribute to the little understood technique of letterpress printing, favoring the more common terms over the obscure ones. David Clifford writes: "This little book grew from my fondness for playing with type and multi-colour printing, and a desire to..... More
(Vancouver): Heavenly Monkey, 2008. 20ff.,+ 4 tipped-in paper samples. Second edition. One of 50 copies. Printed to mark the tenth anniversary of its original publication, El Autobus Azul was the first book printed by Rollin Milroy, and this new edition adds a Foreword by him. Four samples of papers collected..... More
Vancouver: Heavenly Monkey, 2003. 6ff., + 30pp. accordionfold strip. One of fifty copies signed and numbered by the author. Initial signature includes a brief introductory essay by Jim Rimmer of the Pie Tree Press and Typefoundry about the new typeface showcased here. The type is called Duensing Titling, named after..... More
Franklin, NH: Hillside Press, 1968. xi, 42pp. One of 250 copies. Illustrated throughout with woodcuts replicated from seventeenth-century originals. Very fine in gilt-stamped black morocco. (2 5/16 by 2; 58x51mm). More
Tilton, NH: Hillside Press, 1974. xvii, 40pp. One of 250 copies. The Caxton translation of 1484 is used, and eight of Caxton's original woodcuts of that edition are reproduced here. With a preface on Caxton and his work. Fine in orange cloth boards printed with Caxton's insignia. (2 3/8 by..... More
