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.
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1965). 36pp., frenchfold. One of 199 copies. Norman Forgue, the printer, referred to this title as "the first edition in book form." However, he printed a full-size, unauthorized edition during Maugham's lifetime, in 1936, under the imprint of Ben Abramson. Slight sunning to spine, minimal rubbing..... More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1978). 96pp. One of 249 copies. Illustrated with photographs of the various eminence grises who have walked the Ohioan stage, among them Ethel Barrymore and Laurence Olivier. Bound in green gilt leather. Fine. (2 3/4 by 2 1/8; 70x53mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1980). (68)pp. One of 249 copies. The story of a 1905 train trip from Los Angeles to Chicago made in what was then a record time of forty-four hours and fifty-four minutes. Illustrated with a map of the route, and also with a frontispiece engraving..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1968). 58pp. One of 250 copies. Nichols' discussion of Caravaggio's own artistic light, accompanied by illustrations and initials in blue, black, and white. Book designed by Norman W. Forgue and printed by Charles Young at the Norman Press. Bound in blue leatherette with gilt stamping to..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1968). 58pp. One of 250 copies. Nichols' discussion of Caravaggio's own artistic light, accompanied by illustrations and initials in blue, black, and white. Book designed by Norman W. Forgue and printed by Charles Young at the Norman Press. Bound in blue leatherette with gilt stamping to..... More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1978). xv, 30pp. According to Bradbury, this is one of 249 copies. Twenty-six examples of calligraphy of Carolingian, Roman, Visigothic, and Humanistic influence (just to name a few), with a foreword and two tables of script styles, one of them folding. Bound by Bela Blau..... More
Skokie, Illinois: Black Cat Press, (1976). xii, 27, (4)pp. One of 249 copies. A playful alphabet, with each letter rendered in a different typeface and decorated into anthropomorphic scenes. Bound in quarter red morocco with marbled paper boards. Slight rubbing to corners, else near fine. Robert E. Massmann bookplate at..... More
Skokie, Illinois: Black Cat Press, (1976). xii, 27, (4)pp. One of 249 copies. A playful alphabet, with each letter rendered in a different typeface and decorated into anthropomorphic scenes. Bound in quarter red morocco with marbled paper boards. Slight rubbing to corners and toning along the spine else near fine..... More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (N.d.). 36pp. One of 249 copies printed in two colors from Petty's calligraphy. Fine in brown leather binding by Bela Blau. (2 3/4 by 2 1/8; 70x55mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1977). (45)pp. From an edition of 249 copies, this is one of ten specially bound in leather by J. Diez. A collection of comical definitions, printed in G. Harvey Petty's calligraphic hand on pale green paper. For example, "Tact" is described as "The art of..... More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press. ix, (25)pp. One of 249 copies. A collection of "Wise Words by Discerning Writers of Thirty Centuries," printed in black and green. Near fine with spot of rubbing on back cover in green leatherette. (2 5/8 by 3 1/2; 68x90mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, 1980. (63)pp. One of 249 copies. Postage stamp frontispiece. Pollock charts the early technologies of photography, up until the twentieth century. Bound in tan cloth boards, gilt-stamped. Fine. (2 3/8 by 1 7/8; 60x47mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, 1964. (24)ff. The testimony of a cat present at the Nativity. Illustrations by Marshall Goodman, printed in green, yellow, and black. Bound by Bela Blau in bright yellow boards stamped in silver. Some light staining to covers, else near fine. (3 1/8 by 2 5/8;..... More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, 1982. 90pp. One of 249 copies. A survey of doll houses and their furnishings throughout history, from ancient Egypt to modern times. Illustrated with numerous black and white photographs and bound in full light blue leather by Bela Blau. Gilt stamping to cover and spine..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, 1961. (xvi), 32, (3)pp. One of 300 copies. Fine in gray leather with a gilt-stamped portrait of Lincoln on the front. A.e.g. (2 5/8 by 1 13/16; 66x48mm). More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, 1961. (xvi), 32, (3)pp. One of 300 copies. Fine in gray leather with a gilt-stamped portrait of Lincoln on the front. A.e.g. (2 5/8 by 1 13/16; 66x48mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, 1985. 61pp. One of 249 copies. A short story of a huntsman in the wild, Jack London-esque in tenor. Bound in mottled brown cloth, gilt-stamped. Fine. (2 1/4 by 1 3/4; 55x44mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1976). (32)pp. Limited to 249 copies. A bitter-sweet tale of a young maid's love. Set in a far-off world where one's wishes can come true, albeit not always as one would have wished. Bound in green leather with gilt title. Very fine. (1 1/4 by..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1961). 23, (3)pp., frenchfold. One of 300 copies. From the German by Albert Henry Allen. In quarter blue leather, with light blue handmade paper over boards. This is one of a few with the incorrect title stamped on the spine: "Return of the Lost Book." A...... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1961). 23, (3)pp., frenchfold. One of 300 copies. From the German by Albert Henry Allen. In quarter blue leather, with light blue handmade paper over boards. A near fine copy of the second book of the Press. (2 3/8 by 1 3/4; 60x45mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, 1983. 98pp. One of 249 copies. An alphabetical investigation into the paraphenalia of Baker Street. Bound in maroon gilt-stamped cloth. Fine. (2 7/8 by 2; 72x50mm). More
Skokie: Black Cat Press, (1976). (46)pp. One of 249 copies. The last two pages are a typefounder's variation from an 1882 specimen book which is a delightful ABC. Slightest rubbing to exterior and expected wear along spine, else fine in brown leather with gilt title and decoration. (2 9/16 by..... More
Skokie: Black Cat Press, (1976). (46)pp. One of 249 copies. The last two pages are a typefounder's variation from an 1882 specimen book which is a delightful ABC. Slightest rubbing to exterior and expected wear along spine, else fine in brown leather with gilt title and decoration. (2 9/16 by..... More
Skokie: Black Cat Press, (1976). (46)pp. One of 249 copies. The last two pages are a typefounder's variation from an 1882 specimen book which is a delightful ABC. Faint staining to lower back cover and mild rubbing to corners, else near fine in brown leather with gilt title and decoration..... More
Chicago, IL: Black Cat Press, 1972. 40pp. One of 249 copies. Frontispiece woodcut of the scene in question. Notes and checklist of various editions and reprints, compiled by Irvin Haas. Bound in red leatherette with gilt-stamping to upper cover and spine. Faint rubbing to lower cover, else fine. Previous owner's..... More
