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.
Birmingham: C. Caswell, (c. 1870). (16)pp. Engraved frontispiece. A moral tale on the ills of covetousness and theft, and the corresponding rights of honesty and confession. Bound in yellow paper wrappers. Untitled hymn (first line: "Among the deepest shades of night") appears on lower cover. Scant foxing and creasing to..... More
Zuilichem: Catharijne Press, 1997. 47pp. From an edition of 190, this is one of fifteen special edition copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Morris. Twelve full-color plates are tipped in, showing wallpaper patterns designed by Morris from 1864-1897. Includes an Introduction by Guus Thürkôw. The special edition comes with..... More
![The History of Reynard the Fox [The Tormenting of Tibert]. Christopher Harrisson, trans](/pictures/thumb/27378.JPG?v=1493395954)
Zuilichem: Catharijne Press, 1991. 56pp. One of 175 standard copies. Wood engraved frontispiece by Pam Rueter, signed and numbered by the artist. Excerpts from four early texts, including Caxton's, with an introduction by E. Verzandvoort, which tells the printing history. Fine in red-brown cloth with printed label. (2 5/8 by..... More
![The History of Reynard the Fox [The Tormenting of Tibert]. Christopher Harrisson, trans](/pictures/thumb/27396.JPG?v=1488320862)
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
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
Zuilichem: Catharijne Press, 1995. 58pp. From a total edition of 190, this is one of fifteen special edition copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Captain Lemuel Gulliver and a map showing the location of Lilliput, by Arne Zuidhoek. Includes an Introduction by Richard Sympson. The text is Chapter 1..... 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
Los Angeles: Wm. M. Cheney, 1964. (36)pp. Two-page spread diagram of various kinds of pocket knives, to illustrate Cheney's discussion of their benefits, shortcomings, types, and history. Bound in paper-covered boards. Fine. (3 7/8 by 2 11/16; 98x68mm). 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. Mint. (2 3/4 by 2..... More
London (but Hertfordshire): John Marshall (but Anne and Peter Stockham), 1801 (but 1976). One of forty-eight copies. In this "cabinet," there are two miniature books and a collection of twenty-eight hand-colored engravings of the objects listed in the books. The books are bound in full leather, one maroon and one..... More
Madrid: (c. 1860). 122pp., + six plates. The Catholic mass is here reduced to its essential points, understandable to children. The plates illustrate familiar scenes, such as the Ascension, the Crucifixion, and the woman at the well. In red morocco wallet--style binding decorated with gilt, including a splendid image of..... More
Paris: P. Blanchard, 1810. 189pp. Engraved frontispiece, after the painting "La Vierge à l'Enfant avec le petit saint Jean-Baptiste" by Raphael, and an engraved title page, showing a young boy dressed in a tunic and praying in a garden. A charming volume replete with prayers for all situations and events..... More
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1989. (32)ff. From an edition of 400 copies, this is one of 110 hand-colored in metallic casein by the artist, and signed by him below the colophon. This Gorey rarity is bound in a one-of-a-kind designer binding by Brother Edgard Claes, a binder known for..... More
Huntington Beach, CA: Der Kolibri Press, 1985. (6)ff., accordionfold. One of twenty-five copies. Signed by the illustrator, Margaret Class, below the colophon. The verse of Isaiah 31:5 is paired with two woodcuts of hummingbirds. Bound in half-leather with striking pictorial paper over boards displaying birds and flowers in vibrant colors..... More
Providence: Livermore & Knight, 1914. 74pp. Printed in red and black. A handy compendium of cocktail recipies for the aspiring mixologist. Bound in green and red paper with gilt titling. Faintest rubbing to corners, else fine. All edges red. (2 1/16 by 1 3/4; 52x45mm). More
Santa Ana: Gold Stein Press, 1985. 22ff. One of 75 copies signed by Bradbury, and by D'Ambrosio, who designed, printed, and bound the book. Illustrated throughout with embossed images and serigraphs, over which some of the poems are printed. Bound in full gray morocco with a silver foil inset, which..... More
Pasadena: Susan and Karen Dawson, 1966. 21pp. Burgess' humorous poem, printed in purple and illustrated with several whimsical line drawings. The binding on this book varies; this copy in glazed-leather boards, hand-bound by Bela Blau. With a cow illustration gilt-stamped in the top left corner of the cover. A fine..... 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
Baltimore: Xavier Press, 1988. vi, 18pp. Samuel Clemens's account of his formative time spent as a printer's apprentice, presented as a speech at a dinner for New York printers. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of Clemens and a vignette depicting a compositor setting type. This copy is in a designer..... 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
(c. 1998). 7pp., accordion-fold. Personalized miniature book sent to Anne and David Bromer by French artist Bertrand Dorny. Dorny and his wife, Anne Walker, a fellow book artist who grew up around Boston, share a studio in Paris. Dorny and Walker and the Bromers were friends for many years, bonding..... More
1998. 6pp., accordion-fold. Personalized miniature book sent as a New Year's greeting to Anne and David Bromer. French artist Bertrand Dorny, who makes extensive use of color, texture, and collage in his designs, and his wife, Anne Walker, a fellow book artist who grew up around Boston, share a studio..... 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
(West Yorkshire): Fleece Press, 2002. (64)ff. From an edition of 285, this is one of 100 copies for which Stephen Byrne made a delightful miniature paper mould, with true papermakers’ copper mesh, to accompany the book. A reprint of Churchyard’s 1588 ode to papermaking, printed on handmade paper and illustrated..... More
