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.
(Los Angeles): William Cheney, 1975. (30)ff. The famous verse from "A Apple Pie, B Bit It, C Cut It," etc. is illustrated with large calligraphic-style letters in this micro-miniature book. It is the smallest book printed in California and was executed by William Cheney for Dawson's Book Shop. A very..... More
(Vienna): K.K. Hofbibliothek, (1912). 22; (126)pp. A facsimile of Viennese printer Ludwig Bonnoberger's famous prayer book of 1607, presented to a gathering of bibliophiles at the Imperial Court Library in September 1912. Bound in buff cloth with interwoven silver threads. All edges are gilt and gauffered, with two indented circles..... More
A nineteenth-century French solid gold enamel binding containing five bone leaves. First appearing around 1820, the carnets de bal were used to record the order of an evening's dances, as well as the name of the partner for a particular dance. This opulent example is decorated with a leaf border;..... More
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
Santa Cruz: Good Book Press, 1988. (33)pp. One of 150 copies. A nonsense rhyme, illustrated with photographs of the printer, Peter Thomas, at the Renaissance Pleasure Faire. Printed by letterpress on Peter's handmade paper, with five samples of his handmade papers tipped-in. Fine in lilac colored boards. (2 15/16 by..... 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
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
(West Yorkshire): Fleece Press, 2002. (64)ff. From an edition of 285, this is one of 100 copies for which Stephen Byrne made a delightful miniature paper mould, with true papermakers’ copper mesh, to accompany the book. A reprint of Churchyard’s 1588 ode to papermaking, printed on handmade paper and illustrated..... 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
Székesfehérvár: 1985. 106pp. One of the deluxe edition of 25 copies. This striking and novel miniature book is printed entirely on folded sheets of aluminium foil. It commemorates the 5th Aluminium Conference, which was held in Hungary in May, 1985 in order to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Hungarian..... 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
(Boston): Bromer, Anne & David, 1980. 24pp. Although the colophon indicates that forty copies of this hand-colored manuscript were executed, Nancy Chandler Edwards completed only thirty copies. Of these, twenty-two were for sale. The artist used the theme of nature in decorating the letters of the alphabet. Illustrations of animals..... 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
