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.
Glasgow: David Bryce & Son, (1904). 64pp. An unusual oblong-format Bryce with page one containing both the title-page, with an Oriental design, and the first page of the preface. This layout is most likely the uncut version of the Bryce Rubaiyat. Bound in finely gilt-stamped gray-brown leather with yapp edges..... More
Tournai: Casterman, 1851. 509pp. Editio stereotypa. Very legibly printed in tiny 2-point type. Bound in black morocco with four raised bands on the spine. Few points of rubbing, else near fine. A.e.g. (Spielmann 481A; Welsh 3700; Mikrobiblion 234). (2 1/4 by 1 5/8; 57x42mm). More
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
Northampton, MA: Catawba Press, 1984. 39pp. One of 155 copies, designed by Barbara Blumenthal. With a history of the early Shaker herb business and herb medicine. Tipped-in are four labels from the first American Shaker colony, at Watervliet, NY. Very fine in pale green printed boards. (2 3/8 by 2..... More
Zuilichem, The Netherlands: Catharijne Press, 1990. (30)ff. One of 150 copies. The activities of each month, illustrated with twelve full-page hand-colored plates. On the reverse of each illustration is a rhyming couplet pertinent to the month of year. Very fine in hand-colored vellum over boards. (1 7/8 by 2 1/2;..... More
Utrecht: Catharijne Press, 1985. 37pp. One of 250 copies. A reprint of an essay published in 1880 on the evils of cutting up fine books. Includes a frontispiece engraving of the author as well as two engraved illustrations, one preceding the text and one following. Designed by Bram de Does..... More
![The History of Reynard the Fox [The Tormenting of Tibert]. Christopher Harrisson, trans](/pictures/thumb/27396.JPG?v=1630529836)
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
![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
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
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
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
