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.
London: Bertram Rota, 1987. Octavo. 283pp., + (28)pp. of illustrations in both color and black & white. One of 400 copies. Barker's investigation of the Frederic Prokosch forgeries. In black, cloth-backed boards. Gilt-titled to spine. A little bit of dust and wear, else a fine copy. More
Los Angeles: Dawson's Book Shop, 1975. (27)pp. One of 150 copies, printed and bound by Vance Gerry. Contains a biography of William M. Cheney and a bibliography of miniature books printed by him between 1949 and 1974. Fine in decorated paper-covered boards, with a paper label and a printed dust..... More
Stockholm: Sällskapet Bokvännerna, 1966. 16mo. 71pp. Bokvännens miniatyrserie 22. One of 700 copies. Black & white illustrations throughout. Swedish miniature book reference, including a bibliography. Bound in wrappers, with some edgewear and toning to spine; else about fine. More
Barcelona: Millà, (1950). Octavo. 58pp. One of 300 copies. Inscribed by the author. Illustrated with a full-color frontispiece depicting the printing and production of miniature books, as well as thirty black & white plates of miniature books, reproduced from pen drawings. A scarce reference book, in Catalan, on miniature books..... More
Frankfurt am Main: Sonderdruck, 1978. Square 16mo. 44pp. "Aus dem Antiquariat" Nr. 2. One of 100 copies, illustrated throughout in black and white. Fine, in tan wrappers. More
Paris: Charavay Frères Editieurs, 1881. 12mo. 125pp. One of 250 copies. With descriptions of 400 items.This is a scarce reference book, much sought after by the serious collector of early miniature books, A few small smudges, but on the whole a fine copy in the original printed paper-covered wrappers... More
London: Edward Arnold, (1961). Octavo. 289pp. First edition. One of 500 copies. Illustrated with black & white photographs. Spielmann's useful catalogue is among the most important reference tools in the miniature book field. Bound in patterned, quarter-cloth boards, gilt-lettered to the spine. The dust wrapper is price-clipped, spine slightly toned..... More
(Boston: Thomas Todd, 1932). 30pp. One of 250 copies. The illustration used for the frontispiece was loaned by Wilbur Macey Stone. A true miniature book about miniatures written by collectors whose tiny tomes were auctioned at Swann Galleries on November 15, 1990. Outer hinge lightly rubbed, light uniform fading to..... More
St. Petersburg: c. 1905-6. 14-carat pendant in the form of a hinged book containing three leaves with fine engraving work. The text begins with a plaintive song which was apparently popular in the salons of pre-Revolutionary Russia, and which closes with the line "Farewell, my invaluable friend/ Do not forget..... More
Watertown, MA: Bromer, Anne & David, 1979. 46pp. One of 150 copies. Signed by Darrell Hyder, the printer. With pen and ink illustrations by Janet Hobbs and an introduction by Herbert H. Hosmer, Jr. This is the text of the original manuscript, which was later shortened considerably. Bound by C...... More
Concord, MA: 1961. (16)pp. One of 200 paperback copies. Signed by the illustrator, Morton H. "Terry" Baker. Fields' most famous poem, illustrated with engaging line drawings, is followed by a brief biographical sketch of the poet. Minor wear, else fine. (3 1/8 by 2 1/8; 80x54mm). More
Franklin, NH: Hillside Press, 1964. 62pp. One of 350 copies. An entertaining account of the quirks, suspicions, and customs that characterize New Orleans. Fine in printed cloth. (2 1/4 by 1 15/16; 59x49mm.). More
Tilton, NH: Hillside Press, 1972. x, 38pp. One of 250 copies. With nine charming, hand-colored illustrations. Fine in peach cloth boards stamped in black. with an illustration of the elf beneath a mushroom. (Bradbury p. 95). (2 3/8 by 2; 60x50mm). More
Franklin, NH: Hillside Press, 1963. 70pp. One of 310 copies signed by the author/publisher. Fascinating story of witches and magic. Very fine. (2 3/8 by 1 15/16; 60x48mm.). More
Franklin, NH: Hillside Press, 1961. 52pp. Limited to 350 copies handset, printed and signed by the author. Clever antic verses about all manner of things including "The Bookseller." A fine copy of the first book of the Press, in cloth-backed patterned boards with a printed paper label. (2 5/16 by..... More
Buffalo, NY: Breed, Butler & Co., 1863. 61pp. A grandmother tells her grandson the story of a vain little girl in order to comfort him after an accident. Bound in gilt-decorated purple cloth. Covers faded and slightly rubbed, else a fine copy. A.e.g. With the signature of a youthful owner..... More
(Tarzana, CA): Collector Editions, (1981). (32)pp. One of 300 copies, signed and numbered by Barbara Raheb. Illustrated throughout in black & white. A compilation of children's nursery rhymes and riddles. Soiling to spine, else near fine in a variant binding of decorated paper-covered boards with a paper label. Bookplate to..... More
Providence: Livermore & Knight, 1914. 74pp. Printed in red and black. A compact compendium of cocktail recipes for the aspiring mixologist, and one that is quite readable. Bound in green and red paper with gilt titling. A fine, bright copy. All edges red. (2 1/16 by 1 3/4; 52x45mm). More
Cincinnati: Mosaic Press, 1991. (46)pp. Illustrated throughout, to punctuate Caniff's reflections on the passage of time. Caniff was an American cartoonist and alumnus of Ohio State University, to which the copyright of this text belongs. Printed by O. Carroll Prewitt and bound by Miriam Owen Irwin. Very fine in red..... More
Cincinnati: Mosaic Press, (1982). (24)pp. A tiny book containing clever sayings about the stock market. Very fine, in dark blue gilt-stamped leather. (Bradbury, p. 159). (1/2 by 1/2; 13x12mm). More
Cincinnati: Mosaic Press, (1981). (48)pp. One of 50 deluxe copies, signed by everyone involved in the production of the book, including the printer, Miriam Irwin, author, illustrator, and binder. With black & white illustrations by Helen Stephens throughout. Published in honor of Philadelphia on the occasion of the Tricentennial Celebration..... More
Cincinnati, OH: Mosaic Press, 1982. 41pp. With illustrations by Lacassa Gunter Fisher throughout, in black and white. Very fine in beige printed boards. (1 by 3/4; 25x20mm). More
Kaposvár, Hungary: József Mautner, 1989. 73pp., + (31)ff. plates. One of 200 copies, signed by the author, József Mautner. Illustrated with black & white portraits of the famed musicians and composers whose biographies are compiled in this volume, including Vladimir Horowitz, the Russian-American virtuoso pianist, and Jascha Heifetz, one of..... More
Dallas: Somesuch Press, 1983. 24pp. Inscribed by Stanley Marcus, noted miniature book collector and proprietor of the Somesuch Press, to his friend and fellow microbibliophile Donn Sanford. A collection of love poems by Shakespeare, Chaucer, and Browning, illustrated with two United States "Love" stamps and a British stamp in honor..... More
(Budapest): Sportpropaganda Vallalat, 1984. Two volumes: 127; 127 pp. A pair of tiny books on the Los Angeles Olympic Games, listing Hungarian participants and medal winners. The two books differ in size and cover design, but are identical as to content. Both are mint, in colorful printed boards, each with..... More
