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): William Cheney, 1975. (30)ff. The famous verse from "A Apple Pie, B Bit It, C Cut It," etc. is illustrated with large calligraphic-style letters in this micro-miniature book. It is the smallest book printed in California and was executed by William Cheney for Dawson's Book Shop. A very... More
Bristol: Lilliput Press, (1996). (37)pp. One of 150 copies, signed by the binder Tim Sheppard. The Silver Penny ABC was originally printed as a chapbook in 1818 and is reproduced here with "Of the Fatal Effects of Bad Education" and "The Moral" following the ABC. Illustrated with engravings, some of... More
N.p. (1930). (28)ff. An informative watercolor manuscript describing the wing and rudder markings of aircraft from the United States, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Most of the markings date from around the end of World War I, charting the rise of military aviation. The wing marking included under the description... More
(NY: Purgatory Pie Press, 1983). 16mo. (58)pp. One of 100 copies signed by the designer, E. K. Smith and the printer, Dko Faust. An alphabet, letterpress printed in gray, in which each letter is presented in a different format. Unusually bound in a soft red leather chemise which wraps around... More
Richmond: Attic Press, 1978. (52)pp. One of 150 copies of this, the last miniature book produced by the Attic Press. Inscribed by Willis Shell, the proprietor of the Press, and with an ALs from him discussing the delivery of this and another of his miniature books. Illustrated by Leslie Geilberger... More
(Watertown, MA): Anne & David Bromer, 1979. 19ff. One of 125 copies. Signed by the artist, Sarah Chamberlain. Contains fifteen of Chamberlain's intricate engravings of exotic animals such as the panda, koala, Siberian tiger, and platypus. Printed on Troya paper in two colors. A very fine copy in the second... More
(Vienna): K.K. Hofbibliothek, (1912). 22; (126)pp. A facsimile of Viennese printer Ludwig Bonnoberger's famous prayer book of 1607, presented to a gathering of bibliophiles at the Imperial Court Library in September 1912. Bound in buff cloth with interwoven silver threads. All edges are gilt and gauffered, with two indented circles... More
Wien: (Lichtdruck der K.K. Graphischen Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt), (1912). 22; (126)pp. A facsimilie of Viennese printer Ludwig Bonnoberger's famous prayer book of 1607, presented to a gathering of bibliophiles at the Imperial Court Library in September 1912. Bound in buff cloth with interwoven silver threads. All edges are gilt and... More
London: Rock Brothers and Payne, (c. 1848-1859). 144pp. This later edition serves as one of a number of "Bijou Series," also found under the imprint of Rock & Co. Slightly larger than the dimensions recorded by Adomeit. Very mild bowing to rear cover, else a bright and fine copy in... More
(Winterport, ME): Borrower's Press, 1974. 18pp. Though not in the book, Bradbury notes that this was an edition of 200 copies. The first book of the Borrower's Press. Fine, in full red morocco with gilt-titling to front and decorated endpapers. Bookplate to front paste-down. (Bradbury, p. 31). (1 by 7/8; 25x22mm). More
Oxford: Oxford University Press, (c. 1900). 576pp. An edition of the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer. Bound in full black leather with gilt tooling to upper cover, spine, and inner edges of covers. All edges red. The volume is in such fine and unsullied condition likely because it... More
London: Oxford University Press, (c. 1900). (688)pp.; (vi), 861pp. Two volumes housed in a matching red leather carrying-case with a thong strap handle. Case features a thumb-pull in front that also reveals the book's title and cover decoration. Both volumes are bound in red leather with the titles in gilt... More
(Van Nuys, CA: Collector Editions in Miniature [Barbara J. Raheb], 1979). 70, (2)pp. One of 300 numbered copies. Includes numerous illustrations by Barbara Raheb. Very slight rubbing to lower board, else fine in black leather, elaborately gilt-stamped with four jewel-like stones affixed to upper cover. Bookplate. (Bradbury, p. 201). (1 3/16 by 7/8; 31x23mm). More
(Tarzana, CA): Barbara J. Raheb, 1984. 72pp. One of 300 copies. With calligraphy and illustrations by Barbara Raheb, and the borders of each page colored red. Bound in full black morocco, gilt-titled to the spine and with a round red morocco lettering piece to the upper cover with gilt-stamped symbols... More
1977. Original woodblock by artist Sarah Chamberlain showing a group of butterflies in flight -- the first of ten illustrations from The Butterfly's Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast. This is not only the first miniature book published by Anne and David Bromer, but also Chamberlain's first miniature book commission. Chamberlain's... More
A nineteenth-century French solid gold enamel binding containing five bone leaves. First appearing around 1820, the carnets de bal were used to record the order of an evening's dances, as well as the name of the partner for a particular dance. This opulent example is decorated with a leaf border;... More
Dallas, TX: Somesuch Press, 1982. 11pp.; (20)ff. One of 800 copies signed by D.G. Kelley and Susan Acker, who printed the book at the Feathered Serpent Press. With seventeen stamps from such places as Christmas Island, Guyana, and Morocco. Scant soiling to top edge, else fine in gold-stamped red leather... More
Chicago: Black Cat Press, (1961). 30 pp. One of "a limited edition printed for friends at Christmas," with just fifty copies offered for sale. Printed in black with orange printer's ornaments. Bound in quarter green morocco and decorative paper gilt-stamped with tiny stars. A.e.g. Spine a trifle sunned, else fine... More
(England: c. 1902). (6)pp. A brass photograph album in the form of a locket, containing six pictures: King Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark, crowned in 1902, the Prince and Princess who became George V and Queen Mary, and a child who is possibly the future Edward VIII. The final... More
(England: c. 1902). (6)pp. A brass photograph album in the form of a locket, commemorating the coronation of Edward VII in 1902. Contains six pictures mounted on metal pages: King Edward VII; the Queen Consort, Alexandra of Denmark; the coronation chair; Westminster Abbey; the coronation choir; and Windsor Castle. The... More
(Bristol): LILLIPUT PRESS, 1986. (44)pp. One of 250 copies signed by the printer, Allan Armstrong. Contains British recipes from the 18th and 19th centuries, with a hand-colored frontispiece and hand-colored illustrations of dishes and kitchen equipment. Very fine in gilt-stamped red morocco. (1 3/8 by 1; 35x25mm.). 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
London: Snagg, R. 1802. 122pp. This book is part of a series printed by Ruffy and Evans for the publisher R. Snagg and is among the rarest miniature books ever printed. With content intended for children, the printer has ingeniously abbreviated longer words to accommodate more text. Louis Bondy notes... More
Munich: Waldmann & Pfitzner, (c. 1953). A complete set of four micro-miniatures. The titles of the tiny volumes are "The Lord's Prayer", "I Love You", "Lincoln's Oath of Freedom" and "The Olympic Oath." Each book is bound in leather with silver or gilt tooling, and is in a plexiglass case... More
Collingswood, NJ: Washburn, William Lewis, 1931. One of 61 copies. 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 printed light blue paper over boards, and housed in the... More
