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
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: 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
(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
London: Tilt & Bogue, (c. 1835). 191pp. Contains forty-eight wood engravings illustrating Aesop's fables, including two portraits of Aesop himself. Bondy writes of the Tilt's Handbooks series "their apparently everlasting popularity has resulted in making it increasingly difficult to find complete copies of these pleasing little volumes." Bound in full..... 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
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
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
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
(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
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
Marcham: Alembic Press, 1998. (7)ff. leporello. One of 140 copies. Includes 13 stitched-in samples of miniature pastepapers from Maziarczyk Paperworks, which illustrate an essay about the process of creating pastepaper and the challenges of working on a miniature scale. Fine in boards covered with Maziarczyk's luminous "Copper Sponge" paper. A...... 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
Nappanee, IN: Press of the Indiana Kid, 1969. 16ff. One of 50 copies. A tale of one man’s adventures in making rag pulp for papermaking, itself printed on handmade paper. With samples of the first attempt, as well as more recent examples. Very fine in handmade paper-over-boards, backed in gilt-stamped..... More
