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): Anne and David Bromer, 1986. (11)ff. One of 160 copies printed at the Firefly Press and illuminated on the title page by Suzanne Moore. This is the publisher's copy, so indicated in Moore's calligraphy on the colophon page. This Elizabethan poem was discovered in a manuscript in 1985 and... More
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1984. (31)ff. One of thirty copies. A whimsical ABC manuscript, drawing on the fertile soil of gardening for its inspiration. The book is lettered and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, the work done in vibrant colors entirely by hand. Included are such plants as fava beans... More
1977. Original woodblock by artist Sarah Chamberlain showing a group of butterflies in flight -- the first of ten illustrations from The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. This is not only the first miniature book published by Anne and David Bromer, but also Chamberlain's first miniature book commission. Chamberlain's... More
Watertown, Mass. Bromer, Anne & David, 1979. Two volumes, one miniature and one micro-miniature in size. 49; (23)pp. From an edition of 150 copies, this is one of thirty-five deluxe, numbered copies signed by Darrell Hyder, the printer, and Janet Hobbs, the illustrator. The first volume contains six hand-colored drawings... More
Watertown, Mass. Bromer, Anne & David, 1979. (20)pp. From an edition of 85 copies, only 50 of which were for sale, this is the publisher's copy. Printed by Darrell Hyder. This is the text of the first edition (1840), printed as a micro-miniature with a pictorial opening initial hand-calligraphed by... More
Boston: Bromer, Anne & David, 1984. 14pp. First edition of Clemens' humorous contribution to an autograph book presented to Mrs. Grover Cleveland in 1889. From an edition of 200 copies, this is one of fifty deluxe copies bound in full leather by Barbara Blumenthal and with hand-colored illustrations by Rez'... More
Watertown, MA: Bromer, Anne & David, 1978. 30pp. From an edition of thirty-five deluxe copies printed at the Bird & Bull Press and signed by Henry Morris, this is a publisher's copy. The deluxe copies include an extra leaf tipped in titled “The Remedy for Micro-Typographia,” which includes a version... More
Watertown, MA: Bromer, Anne & David, 1978. 30pp. From an edition of 150 copies, this is a publisher's copy, inscribed by Henry Morris. In the inscription, Morris writes, "John Fowles got $2 each for signing his books, but i do it for nothing-- is that fair??" This was the first... More
NYC: Abrams and The Grolier Club, (2007). Small quarto. 215pp. One of 250 deluxe copies for sale, signed by the authors and including a facsimile of the book in miniature format, together in a specially designed slipcase. Profusely illustrated with more than 260 full-color photographic reproductions including numerous full-page illustrations... More
Glasgow: David Bryce & Son, (c. 1901). 876pp. Printed on India paper and illustrated with black & white plates. Bound in full brown leather stamped in blind on the covers and lettered in gilt on the spine, with a pocket inside the rear cover containing a leather-bound magnifying glass. Attached... More
(Glasgow: David Bryce, c. 1900). (824)pp. Printed entirely in Arabic and representing one of the most famous of all David Bryce publications, these Korans were distributed to Muslim Ottoman soldiers fighting for the allies during World War I. Bound in elaborately gilt-stamped limp red leather, this item appears on the... More
Glasgow: David Bryce, 1893. 433pp. Comprising the most recent statistical information and notices of the most important historical events associated with the places named, also, The Last Census. Printed horizontally across the page. Original brownish cloth with ad for Pears Soap on the rear cover. Minor shelf wear, with a.... More
Glasgow: Bryce, David, (c. 1898). 128pp. These snippets of comic wisdom reveal the lighter side of a publisher primarily known for literary and religious works. As the title-page proclaims, "A little nonsense now and then/ Is relished by the wisest men." Cover and spine gilt-stamped with the title. Contemporary ownership... More
Glasgow: Bryce, David and Son, (c. 1900). (58)ff. Contains two volumes bound in one: Tiny Alphabet of Animals and Tiny Alphabet of Birds. At the time of its publication, this was the smallest color-plate book ever printed. Each letter is illustrated with a full-page chromolithograph, for a total of 52... More
Glasgow: BRYCE, DAVID, (c. 1896). 240pp. Reduced facsimile of the first edition, which had been printed in Kilmarnock by John Wilson in 1786. Fine in green leather. (Spielmann 69). (1 3/16 by 7/8; 30x20mm). More
Glasgow: Bryce, David, (c. 1905). 364pp. Frontispiece in black & white. A dainty edition clearly printed on thin India paper. Very fine in gilt-titled dark blue leather. The extremely rare printed dust wrapper is present. It is reinforced with old tape and has some chips, but is mostly complete with... More
(Denver): Budcraft Press, 1967. 50pp. One of 225 copies signed by the artist and U.G. Mosier, the printer. With two hand-colored, naughty illustrations by Ted Castor. Upper cover slightly bowed, else fine in red, gilt-stamped leather. A.e.g. Bookplate of former owner. (2 15/16 by 2 1/4; 75x58mm). More
(Tokyo: Addo-Rie Studio, 1980). One of 100 copies. One of the most popular Buddhist prayers in Japan, printed on the famous Japanese Torinoko paper in both Chinese and Sanskrit with three hand-colored illustrations. When rolled up onto the red sandalwood rod, the scroll is covered by a Kawashima colored silk... More
Ancona: Baluzzi, (1812). 32pp. This attractively printed calendar notes holidays and the dates for the change of seasons. Each month is marked with sunrise times, and the ecclesiastical significance of each day is noted. The almanac closes with four pages of brief guidelines for a happy and virtuous domestic life... More
1915. Austrian almanac that has a page for each month, a page of holidays, a short one-page biography of Franz Joseph I, and eight pages at the end for notes. Fine in brown leather, gilt stamped with the name of the liqueur specialists who issued this calendar. (3 1/8 by 1 1/4; 78x32mm.). More
Vienna: (1892). Printed in red and black. Fine in brown leather, with a bird sitting on the stalk of a cat tail in gilt on the front cover. Black & white photograph of a man in a military uniform pasted onto front free endpaper. (3 by 1 1/8; 77x28 mm). More
Vienna: M. Trentsensky, (c. 1858). (24)ff. An elegant almanac with elaborate title-page decoration colored in blue, bronze, and gold. A slender, pocket-sized volume in light paper boards, decorated with gilt embossing and a painted floral design. Housed in a white slipcase with blind embossing and gilt filigree decoration, which includes... More
N.p. (1931). (58)pp. Produced as a giveaway item for a stationery store, this calendar is printed in red and black with several glassine leaves in the center for carrying stamps. Bound in green boards with an attractive, Art Deco geometric pattern on the cover in various colors and gold. Gilt... More
Vienna: Fromme, Carl, (1916). (62)pp. A finger calendar printed in red and black, with decorative borders in violet. Fine in tan pigskin, with an interesting WW I commemorative medal showing a profile of the Kaiser with the words "Winterfeldzug 1914-15 in den Karpathen" (Carpathian Winter Campaign). (See Spielmann 438-41 and... More
Vienna: Fromme, Carl, (1923). (62)pp. A lovely finger calendar, printed in red and black, and showing each day with its saint. Each page has a decorative border in violet. Fine in marbled boards. (See Spielmann 438-41; Welsh 6037). (2 3/4 by 1 3/8; 70x35mm.). More
