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.
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
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
NY: The Grolier Club, 2019. Quarto. 435pp. Replete with to-scale photographs of the wealth of miniature books presented in the exhibition held at the Grolier Club in the spring of 2019. Bound in black cloth over boards with dust wrapper. Fine. More
(London: Java Head Bookshop, 1948). 79pp. One of 500 copies. Illustrated with plates reproducing pages from important miniature books in black & white, including the Pickering Diamond Classics Odyssey. A concise history of miniature books from the 16th to 19th centuries, and a tribute to the joys of collecting miniature..... 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
Storrs-Mansfield, CT: Maurizio Martino Publishers, (1995). Octavo. 289pp. Reprint edition. One of 150 copies. Illustrated with black & white photographs. Spielmann's useful catalogue is among the most important reference tools in the miniature book field. Bound in red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine. No dust jacket as issued..... 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
(Boston: Thomas Todd, 1932). 30pp. One of 250 copies. With a frontispiece illustration reproduced from a print 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. Fine in stiff mauve wrappers decorated and..... More
(Hyattsville, MD): Rebecca Press, 1986. 87pp. One of 350 copies. Signed by the designer, Rebecca Bingham. The second in a set of three fairy tales, "in which roses are significant story elements." Illustrated with original wood engravings by Sarah Chamberlain, who signs the colophon page. Bound by Green Dragon Bindery..... 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
Buffalo, NY: Hillside Press, 1981. 51pp. One of 250 copies signed by Eleanor Irwin, proprietor of Hillside Press. With a black & white photograph of Hubbard as a frontispiece. Dard Hunter's essay on his teacher is introduced by William Loos. Fine in yellow printed cloth. (2 3/8 by 2; 60x51mm)..... More
(Hyattsville, MD): Rebecca Press, 1989. (30)pp. A book of poetic thoughts by the famous playwright. One of 250 copies. Signed by Rebecca Bingham Illustrated with three full-page wood engravings and engraved endpapers by Sarah Chamberlain. Designed by the publisher, Rebecca Bingham. Bound at the Green Dragon Bindery in cherry wood..... More
Boston: Bromer, Anne & David, 1981. (36)pp. One of 115 copies. Signed by Linnea Gentry of the Amaranth Press, who printed and illustrated the book. Printed in two colors. An extremely fine copy in violet pastepaper boards with title stamped in silver to front cover, author to spine. Prospectus laid..... More
Watertown, MA: Bromer, Anne & David, 1977. (24)pp., frenchfold. One of 150 copies of the regular edition signed by the printer/illustrator, Sarah Chamberlain. Printed on Japanese paper with textual ornamentation in green. Fine in marbled boards with printed paper label. (2 3/8 by 2 in.; 60 x 50 mm). 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
London: Darton, Harvey, & Darton and J. Harris, 1812. 96pp. A pocket-sized reference for children, with full-page engraved plates of each of the forty-eight birds, along with a description of the characteristics and mannerisms of each species. Occasional light internal spotting, else about fine. In a variant binding of olive..... 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
(Van Nuys, CA: Raheb, Barbara J., 1981). (56)pp. One of 300 copies, signed and numbered. Illustrated throughout in black & white. Fine in green gilt-stamped pyroxylin. Bookplate to front paste-down. (Bradbury, p. 213). (1 by 3/4; 25x18mm). More
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
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). Three volumes. (48)pp. each. One of an unknown number of deluxe copies, signed by the printer, Miriam Irwin, the illustrator, and the author. Twenty-four dog breeds, from Afghan to St. Bernard, are illustrated and described over the course of this three-volume set. Bound by Hugo Grummich..... 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
