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.
Invergordon: John Macpherson, (n.d.). (16)pp. A collection of collotype images of the Scottish town of Invergordon, which is located just north of Inverness. The scenes include Invergordon Castle, the town's High Street, and various of views of sailboats and battleships offshore. Bound in sharp silk tartan with "Invergordon" gilt-stamped to... More
(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
(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
(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
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
(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
(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
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
(Dundee, MI): Phil Weygand, 1967. 36pp. One of approximately 125 copies. With a fold-out frontispiece illustration and one tipped-in illustration, both tinted red and showing battle scenes. Also with a tipped-in facsimile letter. Contents were provided by Central Michigan University, with the introduction written by William E. Franklin, a professor... More
Worcester: St. Onge, Achille J., 1953. 77pp. One of 2,000 copies. Printed at the Chiswick Press in red and black type. With a black & white frontispiece portrait of the Queen. Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full red morocco, with gilt stamping to covers including double-rule borders. Paste-downs and... More
Worcester, Massachusetts: St. Onge, Achille J., 1953. 77pp. From an edition of 2,000 copies, this is one of forty-six bound in 1960 with a variant frontispiece portrait of Elizabeth II in profile. Printed at the Chiswick Press in red and black type. Bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full red... More
Dundee: Wee Willie's Workshop, 1962. (15)ff. One of 100 copies printed by Philip Weygand when he was just twelve years old. A checklist of this Indianapolis Press is included. Very fine in cloth-backed boards. (2 1/2 by 2; 63x51mm). More
(N.p. n.d.). Set of eight cards, printed in red, along with rules sheet. The cards create a drinking game; all are dealt to a group of eight, and each player must follow the pictorial instruction on the card placed before him or her. Five cards show a single cocktail, indicating... More
Ancona: Baluzzi, (1812). 32pp. This attractively printed calendar notes holidays and the dates for the change of seasons. Each month is marked with sunrise times, and the ecclesiastical significance of each day is noted. The almanac closes with four pages of brief guidelines for a happy and virtuous domestic life... More
Skokie, IL: Black Cat Press, (1980). 24pp. One of 249 copies printed by the Schori Press, bound by Bela Blau, and illustrated by Barbara Raheb. Designed by Norman Forgue, the Press’s proprietor. Very fine in cream leather with a gilt teddy bear on the front cover. The smallest Black Cat... More
