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.
Paris: Chez Janet Libraire, (1806). 1-16, 1-24, 17-32pp., + (12)ff. engraved illustrations. Title page also engraved. This miniature almanac includes calendar tables for the year 1806 and a list of eclipses, as well as twelve short educational poems. Each of the rhyming poems, consisting of three stanzas of eight lines..... More
Rijswijk, Netherlands: Gentenaar & Torley, 1998. Oblong small quarto. 255pp. Together with a smaller "child" book containing seventeen artistic paper samples, measuring 2 3/4 inches square, nested within the center of the "parent" book. Published on the occasion of the second Holland Paper Biennial in the Rijswijk Museum in 1998..... More
Jersey City, NJ: Colonial Life Insurance Company of America, (1909). (48)pp. A chronological sketch of the history of the U.S., describing major events in the country's development beginning with Columbus's discovery of the New World and concluding with Taft's inauguration in 1909. Illustrated with line drawings of important historical figures..... 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
Nappanee: Press of the Indiana Kid, 1967. (19)ff. One of 100 copies. Double title illustration and three sketches of the first airmail stamp. In addition there is an original airmail stamp commemorating the event and a photograph of an envelope that was on the first flight. Faint rubbing at corners..... More
N.P. Miniature Book Society, 1988. Fine in printed wrappers. (2 7/8 by 2 7/8; 73x73mm). More
San Rafael, CA: Feathered Serpent Press, 1985. (40)pp. From an edition of 175, this is one of 50 deluxe copies with an extra suite of nine etchings. A humorous etymology exploring the history and word-play of the word "bag." Illustrated throughout with hand-colored drawings by Weiss. Bound in tan leather..... More
Worcester, MA: St. Onge, Achille J., 1962. 54pp. One of 950 copies. Illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of the author. This copy is in a variant binding, unrecorded by Massmann, of green morocco with a gilt-stamped binding design by Rudolph Ruzicka. Very fine. A.e.g. (Massmann 20; Bradbury, p. 253). (2..... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, 1962. 84pp. One of 300 copies, designed and with typography by Norman Forgue. A humorous essay about famous book collectors, many of them authors, who allowed their delight in collecting to carry them beyond the limits of moderation into gluttony. Very fine in gilt-stamped green leather..... 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
Boston & Vancouver: Bromer Booksellers & HM Editions, 2015. 72pp. From an edition of 120, this is one of 85 copies that make up the regular edition. Designed and printed at Heavenly Monkey, this lovely miniature memoir and bibliography contains stories of pleasure, coincidence, and difficulty for each of the..... More
NY: Valentine's Manual Press, 1922. 192pp. Engravings throughout of historic Yonkers buildings, landmarks, and scenery. A near-miniature account of the history of Yonkers, from its founding to its contemporary commercial, cultural, and social environments. Bound in red leather with gilt title to upper cover. Housed in paper slipcase. Some bumping..... More
Worcester, MA: St. Onge, Achille J., 1952. 27pp. One of 750 copies. Illustrated with a portrait frontispiece of King George VI by Karsh of Ottawa. First American edition of Winston Churchill's speech. Printed by the Chiswick Press and bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. Very fine in red morocco with gilt-stamping..... More
(Mill Valley, CA): Sunflower Press, 1986. 30pp. One of 75 copies signed by the designer, Carol Cunningham. Featuring original illustrations by Maryline Poole Adams, this excerpt from Twain's tale opens with a frontispiece portrait of the author, which also appears on the front cover. Four full-page plates depict scenes from..... More
Utrecht: Catharijne Press, 1988. (34)pp. From an edition of 165 copies, this is one of fifteen deluxe copies hand-colored by Luce Thürków and with the Art Nouveau initials beautifully heightened with gold. Extremely fine in full green limp suede with gilt-stamped label on the front cover. Housed in original green..... More
Northridge, CA: Lord John Press, 1981. 29 pp. From an edition of 400, this is one of 100 copies specially bound by Bela Blau. Signed by President Gerald R. Ford. The text of a September 1980 address given to the Visa International Convention in Quebec encouraging world peace for economic..... More
Frankfort, KY: Whippoorwill Press, 1979. (5), 9pp. One of 100 copies printed by hand on handmade Whippoorwill paper. Illustrated with linocuts in blue by Bonnie Baris amidst Franklin's step by step treatise on producing large paper with simple techniques. Extremely fine in beige buckram with printed paper label on front..... More
Frankfort, KY: Whippoorwill Press, 1979. (5), 9pp. One of 100 copies printed by hand on handmade Whippoorwill paper. Illustrated with linocuts in blue by Bonnie Baris amidst Franklin's step by step treatise on producing large paper with simple techniques. Very fine in beige buckram with printed paper label on front..... More
West Orange, NJ: Oldstyle Press, 1978. (24)pp. One of 65 copies. A brief yet comprehensive treatise on the evolution and manufacture of borders and floral designs in letterpress, with a splendid variety of borders printed in orange, blue, red, green, and brown. Bound in black cloth with paper label to..... More
(New Britain, CT: Art Press), 1971. (16)pp., frenchfold. One of 50 copies. The Foreword by Massmann is signed by him. Hunter's account of the post-Civil War reuse of Egyptian mummies' wrappings by a Maine paper merchant is bound in stiff wrappers in the shape of a sarcophagus with the profile..... More
Needham, MA: Rosemary Press, (1916). (iii), 101, (2)ff. From an edition of 75 copies printed for the 129th meeting of the American Oriental Society, this is one of fifteen reserved for the Press. A charming miniature book featuring Khayyam's celebrated couplets on the recto of each page. The edition was..... More
Zuilichem: Catharijne Press, 1995. 58pp. From a total edition of 190, this is one of fifteen special edition copies. Illustrated with a portrait of Anne Frank as the frontispiece. The special edition is bound in full red morocco, gilt-stamped with Anne Frank's signature and with a 14 carat gold plated..... More
Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1968. 103pp. One of 400 copies printed by Grabhorn-Hoyem. This was to have been the last book designed by Bruce Rogers begun in his 87th year, but the corrected page proofs did not reach him until the day of his death in 1957. They gathered..... More
(Arkansas): Randle, Burt, 1940. (16)ff. Contains the Gettysburg Address, and a letter to Mrs. Bixby of Boston, the mother of five slain Union soldiers. All photographed from the handwriting of this Arkansas farmer who won a "Ripley's Believe It or Not" prize for writing on a postage stamp. Fine in..... More
