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.
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
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1983. (62)pp. First edition. From an edition of 400 copies signed by Gorey, this is one of 100 copies comprising the deluxe issue with the illustrations hand-colored by him. The text is an alphabet of short humorous couplets patterned after early moral primers for children..... More
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1989. (32)ff. From an edition of 400 copies, this is one of 110 hand-colored in metallic casein by the artist, and signed by him below the colophon. This Gorey rarity is bound in a one-of-a-kind designer binding by Brother Edgard Claes, a binder known for..... 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
London (but Hertfordshire): John Marshall (but Anne and Peter Stockham), 1801 (but 1976). One of forty-eight copies. In this "cabinet," there are two miniature books and a collection of twenty-eight hand-colored engravings of the objects listed in the books. The books are bound in full leather, one maroon and one..... More
New Britain, CT: Art Press, 1971. (6)pp., frenchfold. One of 50 copies printed at the Art Press and signed by the proprietor, Robert E. Massmann. Several keepsakes in one, this tribute to Hunter includes a eulogy and a reproduction of a letter from Harrison Elliot, both held in pockets on..... More
London: C. Tilt, (c. 1835). 191pp. Forty-eight bird species are described and illustrated with wood engravings. The series is advertised as "Tilt's Handbooks for Children, Each Containing 48 Pretty Plates, Neatly Bound." Bondy writes "their apparently everlasting popularity has resulted in making it increasingly difficult to find complete copies of..... More
(Vancouver): Heavenly Monkey, 2008. 20ff.,+ 4 tipped-in paper samples. Second edition. One of 50 copies. Printed to mark the tenth anniversary of its original publication, El Autobus Azul was the first book printed by Rollin Milroy, and this new edition adds a Foreword by him. Four samples of papers collected..... More
Portland, Maine: Yellow Kid Press, 1970. (18)pp. Second edition. One of 100 copies. A short story about the activities of the cherubs who inhabit a set of initials produced by Stephenson, Blake and Co., England. Many of the cherubs are less-than-angelic, causing mishaps for their neighboring letters; letters N through..... More
Franklin, NH: Hillside Press, 1966. xvii, 42pp. One of 375 copies. Various texts by Shakespeare with twelve silhouettes by Paul Konewka. Fine in burgundy cloth over boards, faintly rubbed. (2 5/16 by 1 15/16; 60x50mm). More
Tübingen: Jäckle-Sönmez, 1991. 75pp. One of 150 copies signed by Sönmez. The carefully-researched text on the development of marbling in Turkey is in both English and German. With ten tipped-in examples of marbled flowers, including tulips, irises, poppies, and carnations, all in soft colors against marbled grounds. Bound in vellum-backed..... More
Venice: Ongania, Ferd. 1879. Two miniature volumes bound as one. 354; 231; (6)pp. One of 1,000 numbered copies. This is copy number 1, and it is signed by Ongania below the limitation statement. With two portrait frontispieces and numerous, exquisite engraved vignettes throughout. Includes six sonnets which had recently been..... More
Santa Cruz: Peter and Donna Thomas, 1990. 32pp., printed rectos only. From an edition of fifty, this is one of forty copies bound oriental-style, and tucked into a board folder. Tied into the folder opposite the book is a group of eleven additional illustrations, each printed on a different kind..... More
Santa Cruz, CA: Thomas, Donna & Peter, 1995. 54pp. From an edition of 100 copies, this is one of twenty-five which includes a 2 dollar bill from Zimbabwe. Each chapter opens with an enlarged initial, which has been decorated with elements from the Thomas's travels in Africa. In boards covered..... More
Wakefield: Fleece Press, 1988. (35)pp. One of 240 copies. With specimens of Morrison's types printed in various colors. Fine in yellow and white striped cloth, with printed label to front cover. Housed in blue cloth-covered slipcase. Bookplate of former owner. (2 1/2 by 1 7/8; 66x49mm). More
Collingswood, NJ: Washburn, William Lewis, 1931. One of 61 copies. Signed and inscribed by Washburn on the front free endpaper. A miniature ABC with letter on each page printed in red, with a girl's name beneath, followed by numbers and an abbreviated story of the little red hen. Bound in..... More
NY: Miniature Dictionary Publishers, (c. 1930). 799pp. One of the series of dictionaries known as "Liliput Dictionaries." Corners lightly rubbed, text block slightly but safely detached at front, else fine in gilt-stamped calf. All edges red. (1 15/16 by 1 3/8 in.; 49 x 35 mm.). (Welsh 2396). More
Kadan, Czech Republic: Jana Pribikova, 2015. (38)pp. One of six copies. Signed by Pribikova at the colophon. A concise history of Dutch windmills, with information on their locations, energy production, and various types. Delightfully bound in green morocco with red, yellow, and purple leather strips inlaid on spine over exposed..... More
Tokyo: Hoshino, 1978. 160pp. A deluxe copy from an incredibly large edition of 1000 copies, produced because of the popularity of the subject in Japan. However, only around 250 books were ever completed. This was the first miniature book that Hoshino made after he quit his day job and decided..... More
N.p. n.d. (4) ff. A photo-reduced reproduction, with news of the day on the cover and horse race information inside. Fine. (1 5/8 by 1 1/16; 41x27mm.). More
N.p. n.d. (8) ff. A photo-reduced reproduction of Cleveland's major daily. Fine. (1 7/8 by 1 1/4; 48x31mm.). More
N.p. n.d. (8) ff. A photo-reduced reproduction of the Swiss paper Tages-Anzeiger. Fine. (1 7/8 by 1 3/8; 47x35mm.). More
