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.
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
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
(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
(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
Upper Denby, Huddersfield: Fleece Press, 2009. (64)pp., + 4 folded sheets of plates. One of 260 copies. A thorough and instructive catalogue of fishing flies, helpfully illustrated with color plates. An actual fly is mounted inside the front paste-down. Bound in full marbled paper over boards. Fine. Housed in slipcase..... More
Woolley, England: Fleece Press, 1986. 28pp. One of 250 copies bound in cloth. Illustrated with nine engravings taken from the original blocks by artists Joan Hassall, Monica Poole, George Mackley, and others. A couple of the illustrations relate to the art of printing. Extremely fine in patterned Liberty cloth with..... 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
Hong Kong: Ford Press, 1968. 108pp. First edition. One of 500 copies, signed by Alla T. Ford on the colophon. An article first published in "The Book-Lover's Answer" in July 1965. Illustrated throughout in black & white. Fine in gilt-titled blue cloth. (2 3/8 by 1 15/16; 61x49mm). 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
(Amsterdam: Alice Garman, 1971). (44)ff. One of 250 copies. Stevenson's delightfully amusing reasons for vetoing a bill passed by the Illinois State Legislature that would have required cats to be leashed. Printed from the calligraphy of Alice Garman and illustrated by her. Garman was a renowned artist and the wife..... More
Paisley, Scotlad: Gleniffer Press, 1986. (22)pp. One of 300 copies. A short story by Barnett, employing the use of Scottish dialect, and illustrated with generic scenes of country life. Bound in full blue-green cloth over boards with cover title in gilt. Fine. (2 by 1 1/2; 51x37mm). More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1987. (iv), 240pp. One of 500 copies. Signed by the printer/binder, Ian Macdonald. A special miniature reprint of the "Kilmarnock" edition of Burns' work, which appeared in 1786. Bound in full blue leather with silver spine titling. Housed in publisher's acrylic box with original title card..... 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
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1988. (13)ff. One of 253 copies. Four British postage stamps honoring Queen Victoria tipped in. A production to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Victoria's accession to the throne, and the 500th year of Paisley as a burgh. Fine in gilt-stamped brown leather. (1 9/16 by 2..... 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
Boston: Bromer, Anne & David, 1982. 41ff. One of just thirty-six copies. A miniature manuscript consisting of twelve original watercolor designs on soft gray paper by Robert Gould, showing hearts embellished with symbolic designs. These include the Heart of the Rose Tree, the Heart of the Medusa, the Wooden Heart..... More
Edwardsville, IL: Hutchins, Ed, 1991. Four wedge-shaped volumes, with each section describing an obstacle to unification and peace: Hunger, Poverty, Intolerance, and Ignorance. Each volume consists of a series of elaborate folds, with brightly colored illustrations. In a clever structural statement, when the four books are placed together forming a...... 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
Boston & Vancouver: Bromer Booksellers & HM Editions, 2015. 72pp. From an edition of 120, this is one of thirty-five deluxe copies. Winner of the 2016 Miniature Book Society Competition Distinguished Book Award. Designed and printed at Heavenly Monkey, this lovely miniature memoir and bibliography contains stories of pleasure, coincidence..... More
