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 ...
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Our miniature books are listed below. You may also browse our miniature books by publisher or by century.
New Britain, CT: Robert E. Massmann, 1970. (16)ff. One of 300 copies. A triangular book, containing many drawings of "Sukie," a French poodle, in various playful poses, printed in brown. With touches of handcoloring by Eloise and Robert E. Massmann. Minor bumps to corners, faint crease to back cover, else..... More
(New Britain, CT: Robert E. Massmann, 1972). (32)pp. One of 250 copies. A "tête-bêche," or reversible book, containing two excerpts from Mark Twain’s writings, each illustrated with a hand-colored frontispiece. In the middle are two fold-out miniature copies of “The Calaveras Crier,” as well as a center pop-up of “The..... More
New Britain, CT: Robert E. Massmann, 1985. (33)pp. One of 300 copies. Frontispiece color photograph of a young deer. Warner, a neighbor, friend, and colleague of Mark Twain, here expounds upon the sport of hunting with keen brutality, signature wit, and understated conservationism. Bound in brown leather with illustration of..... More
Newton, IA: Tamazunchale Press, 1987. 31pp. Truman Capote's essay describes his first meeting with French author Colette, during which she gave him a crystal paperweight and inspired him to start collecting the objects for himself. The book has been specially bound by Tom McEwan to reflect the world in miniature..... More
Conway, MA: Robert L. Merriam, 1975. 24pp. One of 1000 copies. Every other page illustrated with quaint scenes from the moral tale. Bound in pale paper wrappers and housed in yellow paper slipcase. Fine. (2 7/16 by 1 11/16; 62x44mm). More
Gates Mill, OH: 1975. (27)pp. One of 100 copies, signed by Meunier, the author, illustrator and artist. Illustrated with reproductions of Meunier's marvelous animal drawings. Fine in red gilt-stamped cloth. (2 1/4 by 1 3/8; 55x42mm). More
London: E. Newbery, 1786. 256pp. Sixteen plates of engravings depict various significant biblical scenes and personae. A close copy of J. Harris' series of thumb Bibles, here published by Elizabeth Newbery. With the usual "u" in "Miniuture," this one with the apparent correction into an "a". Bound in full brown..... More
London: n.p., (1795). 220pp. With eight woodcut illustrations that depict significant figures and scenes, including Adam and Eve, Moses, and King David. Most other known copies contain seven or fewer woodcuts. Adomeit identifies this as the first iteration of at least two issues, which feature reset title pages and texts..... More
London: R. Wilkin, (1728). A wonderfully illustrated thumb Bible with sixteen copperplate engravings, including two frontispiece illustrations, one preceding the Preface and another prior to the main text, as well as two engraved title pages. Issued by printer and bookseller Richard Wilkin, this is the first English thumb Bible in..... More
London: Rock & Co., (1845). (32)ff. Each page, including frontispiece and title page, illustrated with an amorous engraving. The images devoted to lovers, singly or together, provide especial insight into the fashions of Victorian England, with one image bearing a striking resemblance to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert themselves. Around..... More
London: Eyre & Spottiswoode, (c. 1915). 702pp. An unabridged Book of Common Prayer. Gorgeously bound in maroon morocco with a hallmarked Birmingham silver plaque affixed to the front cover, featuring five cherubs. Very fine. A.e.g. (Bromer/Edison, p. 81). (2 1/8 by 1 7/8; 53x47 mm). More
NY: Oxford University Press, (1919). 876pp. Printed on India paper and illustrated with black & white plates. Between the Old and New Testaments are the Shakespeare Family records, by W. S. Brassington, a rare feature of this tiny bible. Bound in full leather with the title in gilt on the..... More
London: Company of Stationers, 1789. Miniature almanac opening with an engraving of York House, spanning four pages. The almanac's calendar records the times of sunrise and sunset, as well as various saints' days and term times for academic institutions. The volume also provides a table of the reigns of the..... More
London: Company of Stationers, 1793. (24)pp. Opens with an engraving of the Coal Exchange, spanning four pages. The almanac's calendar records the times of sunrise and sunset, as well as various saints' days and term times for academic institutions. The volume also provides a table of the reigns of the..... More
(Turkey: c. 1875). 200ff. Complete, single column, with between thirty-eight and forty-one lines of miniature gold gubari per page. Surah headings in black against gold ribbon banners. The opening two pages of text feature illuminated blue, red, and white borders decorated with interlocking vinal circles, creating a mesmerizing array of..... More
Paris: Didot, Typographie de Firmin, (c. 1810). 124pp. Eight engravings on beige paper. The absurd adventures of Pierrot, born from a turkey's egg to La Fee Gourmande, and dedicated to gourmandise from that moment on, until his gluttony proves too much and dooms him. In a contemporary binding: full blue-green..... More
Marcham, Oxford: Alembic Press, 1995. (20)pp. One of 110 copies. Six woodcuts by Brett, printed in burgundy and black. These punctuate the Te Deum hymn, which is tidily presented using type from St. Mary's Press, the private press of the Community of St. Mary the Virgin. The music rests on..... 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
Freestanding wooden bookcase for miniature books. Two adjustable shelves; door with magnetic closure and plastic knob. Minor cosmetic scuffing, else fine. Measures 15 by 12 inches. More
NYC: Abrams and The Grolier Club, (2007). Small quarto. 215pp. One of 250 deluxe copies for sale, signed by the authors and including a facsimile of the book in miniature format, together in a specially designed slipcase. Profusely illustrated with more than 260 full-color photographic reproductions including numerous full-page illustrations..... More
N.P. Miniature Book Society, 1988. Fine in printed wrappers. (2 7/8 by 2 7/8; 73x73mm). More
Milano: Ulrico Hoepli, 1878. 499pp. One of 1,000 copies. The type, cut by Antonio Farina in 1834 but never used by him, was cast in 1850 for this edition of Dante and is thought to be the smallest ever employed. According to Bondy, "the most widely-discussed and the most sensational..... More
(Alès: PAB, 1960). One of forty regular copies, signed by the illustrator, Pablo Picasso, and the author, Pierre André Benoit. Thematically similar to plate 22 in La Tauromaquia (1959), which depicts the instant of death of a bull in a bullfight, this single drypoint etching accompanies a brief poem by..... More
Richmond, VA: Cyclone Books, 2021. (v), 13, (10)pp. From an edition of thirty, this is one of fifteen lettered copies, printed on Twinrocker Da Vinci handmade paper and bound in full leather by Deborah Evetts. Signed by the author, the printer, and the binder. Frontispiece portrait of Manutius. A brief..... 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
