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.
Spartanburg, SC: Kitemaug Press, 1982. (20)pp. One of 150 copies. Printed oblong, in a format "vaguely reminiscent of the 19th century oblong songsters and hymnals." Here, such eminent carols as "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" and "Deck the Halls" are set opposite woodcut illustrations. Bound in plain green wrappers..... More
Spartanburg: Kitemaug Press, 1988. (20)ff. One of 100 copies. Fabrications about remarkable cats, illustrated with woodcuts. Fine in gray pictorial cloth. (1 15/16 by 1 9/16; 48x43mm). More
Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1981. 21pp. One of 150 copies. Charles Lamb's Mr. H. here receives coy, yet noble, bibliographic detail. Bound in full green leather with gilt title to upper cover. Fine. (2 13/16 by 2 1/16; 72x52mm). More
(Rochester, NY): Leopard Studio Editions, 2014. (24)pp., accordion-fold, with two four-page inserts sewn in. One of five copies, signed and numbered by the artist. A miniature artist's book by Sue Huggins Leopard based on the poem by Emily Dickinson, which reads: "Love is anterior to life, / Posterior to death..... More
Enkhuizen, Holland: Jack R. Levien, 1971. (12)ff. One of 100 copies, inscribed by Levien with a hand-written colophon. A facsimile of a miniature book published by Jacques Meson in Anvers in 1667. The text is extracts from the Gospel of John. With frontispiece and illustrated title. Fine in green grosgrain..... More
Enkhuizen: Jack R. Levien, 1971. (14)ff. An abridged version of the New Testament story, illustrated with tiny reproductions of medieval woodcuts. Fine in full leather, with gilt fillets and a tiny gilt star. (11/16 by 1/2; 17x12mm). More
Enkhuizen, Holland: Levien, Jack R., 1970. (30)pp. The story of Noahs ark, with Levien's charming drawings. Text in English. Minor discoloration to edges of cover, otherwise fine in red leather with a little ark stamped in gold. A.e.g. (1 1/4 by 7/8; 31x23mm). 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: Marcilly, (ca. 1850). 92pp. Illustrated with five wood-engravings. This tiny prayer book for children was very popular and issued over a long period of time in a variety of printings and bindings. This one has covers of red pebbled coth over boards with giltwork to panels and spine. Light..... More
Paris: Marcilly, 1825. 128pp. With an engraved title-page and seven engraved plates which showcase popular party games of the period. Occasional light foxing, minor soiling to boards and rubbing along outer hinges. Overall a near fine copy in blind embossed boards with slipcase. (Gumuchian 4139). (2 3/4 by 1 7/8;..... More
Paris: Marcilly, (c. 1830). 95pp. Oblong. A miniature collection of La Fontaine's fables illustrated with six finely-engraved plates and an engraved title-page vignette. In a contemporary binding of chestnut morocco with gilt stamping to covers, turn-ins, and spine. Fine. A.e.g. Bookplate of former owner on front free endpaper. (Welsh 4236;..... 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
(New Britain, CT: Art Press, 1984). (8)ff. One of 150 copies. A keepsake for the Miniature Book Society Conclave in Los Angeles, 1985. Lists and describes five REM miniatures about papermaker and historian Dard Hunter. With a tipped-in sample of Dard Hunter handmade paper. Fine in yellow wrappers and paper..... More
New Britain, CT: Art Press, (1983). (8)pp. From an edition of 300 copies, this is one of 59 numbered and hand-colored, in commemoration of the printer Robert E. Massman's birthday. Illuminated initials precede Sherman's calligraphy, which here presents a title page in Spanish and a Latin gimmick poem, which requires..... More
(New Britain, CT): Robert E. Massmann, (1970). (16)pp. One of 150 copies. A cheerful collection of haiku and poems written and assembled as a Christmas gift for young Patty Terzano, the daughter of friends of the Massmann family. Printed on purple pages with white text, with light blue endpapers and..... More
(New Britain, CT): Elihu Burritt Library (REM Miniatures), 1962. 51pp. From an edition of 2000 copies, this is one of a few copies in a variant binding of full leather. Illustrated with a portrait of Burritt, facsimile of a letter he wrote containing the title phrase, and an example of..... More
(New Britain): Massmann, Robert E., 1971. (42)pp., frenchfold. No limitation stated. Printed in purple ink, with illustrations of twenty-five Christian symbols by E. Helene Sherman. Miniature bookplate of Haddon Klingberg, designed by Massmann, used as a frontispiece. Fine in white leatherette, with a label illuminated in gold by Sherman. White..... More
New Britain, CT: Art Press, 1978. Two volumes bound dos-a-dos. 38; 34pp. One of 250 copies. The first volume contains the bibliography, while the second contains selected illustrations that had been drawn for REM miniatures, most of which are hand-colored by Eloise and Robert Massmann. Bound in brown leatherette with..... More
(New Britain, CT): Robert E. Massmann, 1979. 84pp. One of 1,000 copies, with a portrait of St. Onge tipped in as a frontispiece. A bibliography of the forty-six miniature and several larger books published by St. Onge, with notations of issue points. Fine in red gilt-stamped leatherette, with a matching..... More
(New Britain, CT): Robert E. Massmann, 1981. (16)ff., frenchfold. One of 500 copies printed at Art Press. An illustrated alphabet by E. Helene Sherman, which is a reissue in a smaller format of the earlier "ABC's of Boston." It shows all the "must see" attractions of Boston. With title-page illuminated..... More
New Britain, CT: Art Press, 1971. (6)pp., frenchfold. One of 50 copies printed at the Art Press and signed by the proprietor, Robert E. Massmann. Several keepsakes in one, this tribute to Hunter includes a eulogy and a reproduction of a letter from Harrison Elliot, both held in pockets on..... More
New Britain, CT: Robert E. Massmann, 1983. (36)pp. One of 300 copies. Inscribed by Robert Massmann facing the half title. A satirical work of dubious-at-best librarian wisdom, with colored illustrations of the resulting five recommendations. Bound in full burgundy leather with paper label to upper cover. Fine in red paper..... More
(N.p.): Massmann, Robert E., 1987. (8)pp. Illustration of a bookish owl at the colophon. Calligraphy by E. Helene Sherman and illumination by Eloise C. Massmann adorn this charming keepsake commemorating Morgan's praise of books, which originally appeared as part of a larger effort given for the Miniature Book Society Conclave..... More
New Britain, CT: Robert E. Massmann, 1975. (17)ff. One of 250 copies. Compiled and illustrated by Mildred Claire Pratt. Poetry about seashells printed in a rosy pink on frenchfold papers. Hand-colored illustrations of shells on every page. A pretty book in blue cloth covers with paper label. Very fine in..... More
