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, (1966). 76pp. One of 250 copies with photographic illustrations throughout. Born out of Norman Forgue's interest in trains, both small and large, and written by his daughter's father-in-law, this was the only miniature book on railroading at the time of its publication. Very fine in full..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1966). 76pp. One of 250 copies with photographic illustrations throughout. Born out of Norman Forgue's interest in trains, both small and large, and written by his daughter's father-in-law, this was the only miniature book on railroading at the time of its publication. Sunning to spine, mild..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, 1962. xiv, 53pp. One of 300 copies. A lecture delivered by Whitman on the anniversary of Lincoln's death. With several full-page color illustrations and a number of smaller black and white illustrations, by Ralph Frederick. Typography by Norman Forgue. Bound in full black leather with illustration..... More
(Evanston, IL): Black Cat Press, 1981. One of 249 copies. Near fine in gilt-decorated green leatherette. (2 1/2 by 1 15/16; 64x49mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1979). 33pp. One of 249 copies. Two single-panel comics add a New Yorker-esque visuality to Zara's reflections. Bound in brown paper over boards, gilt-stamped to upper cover and spine. Fine. (2 1/4 by 1 3/4; 55x41mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, 1982. 43, (3)pp. One of 249 copies. Three-color head- and tail-pieces by Forgue. Bound in white paper over boards, gilt-stamped. Fine. (2 1/4 by 1 7/8; 58x46mm). More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1951). 46pp. One of 249 copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece in black & red. Trace exterior rubbing, else near fine in gilt-stamped red cloth. (2 3/8 by 1 3/4; 63x47mm). More
Los Angeles: 1993. 26pp. One of 90 copies issued as a keepsake for the Zamorano Club. A touching memorial to renowned miniature-binder Bela Blau upon his death. Published privately by his wife Mariana, who also bound the book and wrote the dedication. Eulogies by Francis Weber, Glen Dawson, and others..... More
Los Angeles: Mariana Blau, 1993. 26pp. One of 90 copies issued as a keepsake for the Zamorano Club. A touching memorial to renowned miniature-binder Bela Blau upon his death. Published privately by his wife Mariana, who also bound the book and wrote the dedication. Eulogies by Francis Weber, Glen Dawson..... More
Los Angeles: Mariana Blau, 1993. 26pp. One of 90 copies issued as a keepsake for the Zamorano Club. A touching memorial to renowned miniature-binder Bela Blau upon his death. Published privately by his wife Mariana, who also bound the book and wrote the dedication. Eulogies by Francis Weber, Glen Dawson..... More
Los Angeles: Blau, Bela, 1965. 24pp. With a frontispiece portrait of Moses. Handset and printed by Blau. The Hebrew text is printed in tablet-shaped borders, followed by a 16-page English translation. Very fine in full leather with heavily gilt upper cover. An exquisite copy of this tiny masterpiece. (Bradbury, p...... More
Los Angeles: Bela Blau, 1972. (15)pp. Brief biographies of various eminent Hungarians, including Joseph Pulitzer. Bound in white paper over boards, with red and green rules to upper cover, evocative of the Hungarian flag. Near imperceptible soiling, else near fine. (1 1/2 by 1 1/4 in.; 39x32mm). More
Los Angeles: Bela Blau, 1965. 47pp. One of 1,000 copies printed by Bela Blau. With a frontispiece portrait of Kennedy, and with each page handsomely printed within a gold-ruled frame. Very fine in gilt-stamped leather. (1 5/8 by 1 3/8; 42x34mm). More
(Los Angeles: Bela Blau, 1963). 21pp. One of 1000 numbered copies of the Centennial edition. Illustrated with a photograph of Lincoln before the famous speech. Gold borders to every page. Bound by Bela Blau in full red leather, gilt, with a blue star on the front cover. Trace rubbing else..... More
Los Angeles: Bela Blau, 1971. 28pp. Printed in green and red. Fine in red leather decorated in silver. (1 1/2 by 1 1/4; 38x32mm). More
(Los Angeles: 1984). 18pp. Printed by Patrick Reagh, and bound by Mariana Blau. A summary of Bela Blau's bookmaking career, on his 70th birthday. Rabbi Kalman Levitan's copy, with his bookplate to the front paste-down, and signed by all the makers, including the printer, binder, author, and by Bela Blau..... More
Los Angeles: Bela Blau, 1969. What Happened to Junipero Serra? by Msgr. Francis J. Weber. Los Angeles (ca. 1969). 25pp. One of 1,000 copies. The Mexican postage stamp used at frontispiece contains an error in identifying the subject, Fr. Junipero Serra, an early missionary to Mexico. Fine in dark green..... More
(South San Gabriel, CA): Bookhaven Press, 1967. (46)pp. One of 250 numbered copies. Illustrated with an engraving of a country road. This is the first book published by the Bookhaven Press. A fine copy in cream paper-covered boards printed with an engraving of a bird and backed in blue cloth..... More
Rosemead, CA: Bookhaven Press, 1970. 44pp. One of 300 copies. The famous mock heroic epic by Lewis Carroll. With illustrations, comments, and a complete glossary by Pall. W. Bohne. Title in red, and illustrations in green. Fine in marbled boards backed in leather. (1 3/4 by 2 5/8; 45x66mm.). More
Belfast, ME: Borrower's Press, 1985. 32pp. One of 175 copies signed by the publisher, Jane Bernier. Story taken from an American Tract Society miniature book of the 1850's. With hand-colored illustrations. Slight overall rubs, else near fine in blue cloth with hand-colored label, and printed backstrip. (Bradbury, p. 35). (3/4..... More
Winterport, ME: Borrower's Press, 1980. 80pp. One of 350 copies signed by Jane Bernier. With hand-colored illustrations by Jane Conneen. Fine in gilt-decorated black leather. (Bradbury, p. 33). (7/8 by 5/8; 22x16mm). More
Winterport, ME: Borrower's Press, 1981. (40)pp. One of 350 copies signed by the artist, Jane Conneen, and by the publisher, Jane Bernier. This is copy number 2. With eighteen hand-colored etchings of wildflowers by Conneen. Very fine in gilt-stamped green leather. A hard-to-find early Borrowers Press gem, the second in..... More
Winterport, ME: Borrower's Press, 1981. 48pp. One of 300 copies signed by Jane Bernier. With hand-colored illustrations. Mild edgewear, else near fine in leather-backed marbled boards. (Bradbury, p. 34). (3/4 by 5/8; 20x15mm). More
Winterport, ME: Borrower's Press, 1975. 31pp. One of 250 copies, signed and numbered by the printer-illustrator Jane Bernier. An essay on Longfellow, with excerpts from his works. This is the third Borrower's Press publication. Very fine in leather-backed tan cloth. (Bradbury, p. 31). (15/16 by 7/8; 25x21mm). More
Winterport, ME: Borrower's Press, 1980. 32pp. One of 350 copies, signed by Jane Bernier, the printer. With charming hand-colored illustrations. Fine in gilt-titled red leather, with gold foil endpapers. (Bradbury, p. 33). (3/4 by 5/8; 19x14mm). More
