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.
(Dijon: Marchet & Roux, 1897). 191pp. This elegant book of prayers to the Virgin Mary is illustrated with an engraved frontispiece of the nativity. Printed by Firmin-Didot in black and red with red rules. Gilt floral decoration on the interior with blue and gold paste-downs. Some minor creasing to several..... More
Paphos (Cyprus): De l'Imprimiere des Graces, (1790). 13ff. French language calendar for the year 1791 printed in the ancient city of Paphos in Cyprus. A WorldCat search yields but one other recorded work issued under this imprint, that being another similarly-formatted almanac from 1773, held at the Morgan Library. In..... More
(Essen): Hans Gerd Goldschmidt, 1979. 124pp. One of 500 copies. A selection of fables, rendered in German and illustrated with eight woodcuts. Bound in gilt-stamped brown leather with a printed dust wrapper and paper slipcase. Very fine. (2 1/4 by 1 5/8; 57x41mm). More
(Boston): Anne and David Bromer, 1986. (15), (15)ff. From an edition of 160 copies, bound together here are one of the thirty-five deluxe copies with hand-illuminated initials in gold and colors by Suzanne Moore, and one of the 125 regular copies. Both are A.P. copies, indicated in Moore's calligraphy on..... More
Philadelphia: Fisher & Bro. (c. 1865). 192pp. Illustrated with frontispiece and five engravings. A miscellany of tales historical, moral, and informative. Slight wear to extremities and fading to spine; else fine in embossed, red cloth-covered boards. (2 3/16 by 2; 56x50mm). More
Philadelphia: Fisher & Bro. (c. 1865). 192pp. Illustrated with frontispiece and seven engravings. Addressed to parents and Sunday School teachers, this instructive miniature was meant to “teach children important lessons of religious, historical, and political truth,” describing the establishment of the Hebrew people as a nation with an essentially Republican..... More
(Wakefield, W. Yorkshire): Fleece Press, (1991). (28)ff. One of 290 copies. Illustrated with etchings by Anthony Christmas. Written by master binder Angela James, this attractive little book summarizes the history of binding, with a glossary. Bound in bright patterned cloth, with a printed label. Bookplate. (2 1/16 by 2 7/8;..... More
Woolley, England: Fleece Press, 1986. 28pp. One of 250 copies bound in cloth. Illustrated with nine engravings taken from the original blocks by artists Joan Hassall, Monica Poole, George Mackley, and others. A couple of the illustrations relate to the art of printing. Extremely fine in patterned Liberty cloth with..... More
NY: B. Shackman & Co., Inc., 1993. (40)ff. A charming flip book, in which a daring roadster jumps over a bus and six other cars. Bound in illustrated wrappers, all black and white. Minor rubbing to edges and few spots of foxing to top edge, else near fine. (1 1/2..... More
(Buffalo, NY): Gies & Co., 1897. (96)ff. Second edition, expanded from the first of 1890, which contained 82 leaves. A flip book of photographs showing Loïe Fuller performing her famous Serpentine Dance, animated by drawing the thumb over the top edge of the book, as described by the publishers, so..... More
Tournai, Belgium: Casterman, 1851. 509pp. Editio stereotypa. Very legibly printed in tiny 2-point type. Bound in black morocco with four raised bands on the spine. Few points of rubbing, else near fine. This copy enhanced with a gilt fore-edge painting by Martin Frost, showing a charming English country church and..... More
(N.p. c. 1922). Set of eight cards, printed in red, along with a rules sheet. The cards form a drinking game; all are dealt to a group of eight, and each player must follow the pictorial instruction on the card placed before them. Five cards show a single cocktail, indicating..... More
N.p. Garcia de Fuentes Press, n.d. 12ff. One of 200 copies. Illustrated with color images throughout. Bound in printed mylar over wrappers. Fine. (2 3/4 by 2; 70x51mm). More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1986. (22)pp. One of 300 copies. A short story by Barnett, employing the use of Scottish dialect, and illustrated with generic scenes of country life. Bound in full blue-green cloth over boards with cover title in gilt. Fine. (2 by 1 1/2; 51x37mm). More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1987. (iv), 240pp. One of 500 copies. Signed by the printer/binder, Ian Macdonald. A special miniature reprint of the "Kilmarnock" edition of Burns' work, which appeared in 1786. Bound in full blue leather with silver spine titling. Housed in publisher's acrylic box with original title card..... More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1978. (28)ff. One of 500 copies. With portraits of Robert Burns and others. Between these are highlights of Burns' compendium of work, including "To a Mouse" and "Address to a Haggis". Pictorial endpapers and printed boards. Fine in a fine pictorial dust wrapper. Bookplate of former..... More
Paisley, Scotland: Gleniffer Press, 1988. (13)ff. One of 253 copies. Four British postage stamps honoring Queen Victoria tipped in. A production to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Victoria's accession to the throne, and the 500th year of Paisley as a burgh. Fine in gilt-stamped brown leather. (1 9/16 by 2..... More
Newport Beach, CA: Gold Stein Press, 1983. 8, 7pp. One of 250 copies. A "tête-bêche," or reversible book, containing two titles about automotive racing in one volume. Fine in tan cloth-backed boards with the titles printed on each cover. (3 by 2 1/8; 75x55mm). More
Santa Ana: Gold Stein Press, 1985. 50pp. One of 350 copies printed at the Ampersand Workshop, bound by Bela Blau. Title in red and black. Fine in gray cloth, stamped in silver. (2 5/8 by 1 7/8; 68x48mm). More
(N.p.): 1976. Three volumes. 22pp.; (14)ff.; (16)ff. With hand-colored illustrations by Amanda Goldman. The first title contains pictures of columbine, water lily, larkspur, and other species. The second volume features vibrant renditions of the chickadee, owl, and other birds. Dolls and Doll Houses is separated into two parts, representing the..... More
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1989. (49)pp. First edition. From an edition of 400 copies signed by Gorey, this is one of 110 comprising the deluxe issue, with twenty-nine illustrations hand-colored by him in silver and gold metallic paint. This is the publisher's copy, so noted on the colophon. An..... More
St. Paul, MN: Greenstone Books, 1969. 44ff., printed rectos only. One of 500 copies. Words by William Cullen Bryant ("A Forest Hymn"), Henry Wadsworth Longfellow ("When Woods Were Green"), and Ralph Waldo Emerson ("Nature"), accompanied by elegant illustrations and elaborate initials on every page. Bound in wood veneer with the..... 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
Boston & Vancouver: Bromer Booksellers & HM Editions, 2015. 72pp. From an edition of 120, this is copy number 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..... More
Vancouver: Heavenly Monkey, 2004. (2)pp, (26)ff. One of fifty copies. A tribute to the little understood technique of letterpress printing, favoring the more common terms over the obscure ones. David Clifford writes: "This little book grew from my fondness for playing with type and multi-colour printing, and a desire to..... More
