Small Talk about Miniature Books
Good things do, indeed, come in small packages when examining miniature books. Although miniaturization of reading material has been an on-going process since the Babylonians were in business around 1500 BC, the present definition of a miniature book is any book that is less than about 3 inches in width or length.
Miniature books, usually prayer books, appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages. They were tiny in order to be easily carried and also so they could be concealed from prying eyes.
By the 19th century, books in general had become more affordable and miniature books really came into vogue. As with earlier eras, they were prized because they were portable Napoleon Bonaparte was known to have assembled a miniature library that accompanied him on his conquests around Europe. He may even have placed them on a miniature shelf like this one.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, books from almost every genre were available as miniatures, including classic fiction, dictionaries, bibles, prayer books, and other non-fiction works like fishing guides where the user was out and about. Publishers also began producing miniature libraries for children, specially designing the books to be more comfortably held in small hands.
As printing and binding techniques improved, book makers displayed their skills by creating even smaller books with increasingly intricate and beautiful bindings. Today it is possible to find miniature books smaller than half an inch featuring gilt and intricate designs.
We recommend Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures by Anne Bromer as the key book about miniature books. Anne is part of Bromer Booksellers – one of the finest rare bookdealers on AbeBooks.
For an excellent selection of affordable miniature books, browse these little beauties from John Howell for Books.
Related Video
See our video on What are Miniature Books. › Play Video
A Large Selection of Small Books
Silver Filigree Miniature Binding Alone
A beautiful filigree (twisted threads of metal) binding with a leaf ornament.
Atlas Minimus
John Gibson
Published in 1758, a set of pocket maps for the known world – the size of a pack of cards
The Mite
Ernest Robinson
First published in 1891, The Mite lived up to its name and was once the smallest English book ever printed.
The Coming of Arthur
Lord Alfred Tennyson
Little Leather Library Edition - tiny treasure at 4" tall and 3" wide.
Mites and other Poems
John Updike
Lord John Press published a limited (just 200) miniature edition of Updike’s poetry.
Small Knowledge miniature library
First and only edition of a children's library on many school subjects, preserved in its original box.
Beautifully illustrated French children’s annual – just 2 5/8” x 1 13/16”.
Set of children’s song book s (1-1/2" x 2-3/16"). Additional copies of Naval Songster are available.
The Rose Garden of Omar Khayyam
Eben Francis Thompson
A famous miniature book (3/16” x 7/32"), considered the smallest book in the world at one time.
The Inaugural Address of Richard Milhous Nixon
Dark blue leather with title gilt on the spine, and with presidential design on the front cover.
Quintus Horatius Flaccus
Quintus Horatius
Works of the Roman poet Horace, written in Latin (3 3/8” x 2 1/16”).
Speeches and Letters of George Washington
George Washington
Little Leather Library edition - originally promotional items through the mail. 4" tall by 3" wide.
This German almanac was published in 1834 and is 7/8” x 5/8 - a technical marvel for the time.
An Imperfect Solution
Joe D'Ambrosio
No. 36 of 50, signed by D’Ambrosio. Five boxes including various items like shells, pearls, flowers etc.
A Voyage to Lilliput & A Voyage to Brobdingnag
Jonathan Swift
Gulliver’s Travels in two volumes, a giant book (13 3/8” x 18 ½”) and a tiny one (2 ½” x 3 ½”).
Smallest Dictionary in the World
Measures just 1” x ¾” and is encased in a metal locket with built-in magnifier.
The Twenty Third Psalm
Tasha Tudor
Illustrated by Tudor, this miniature measures 3 11/16” x 2 13/16”
Scrappety-Hop and Pearly-Top
Anon
Fairy tale ending for a boy who rescues a dwarf and is given magic fir cones to help him gain his princess.
Books About Miniature Books
What Are Miniature Books?:
More to Discover
Search Rare Books
