Miniature book

A miniature book

The Constitution of the United States, in miniature book.

A miniature book is a very small book, sized from .5 inches square to roughly 2 by 3 inches—no larger than 3 inches in height, width, or thickness.

History

These books became more popular in the last few decades of the 19th century because they were portable and easy to conceal. One could carry a vast number of books in a small case for when one travelled. Many are bound in fine Moroccan leather, gilt and contain excellent examples of woodcuts, etchings, and watermarks. More popular topics at that time were dictionaries, language translators, religious stories and readings, and, occasionally, tourist guides.

Subjects range from the Bible, encyclopedias, music, stories, rhymes, famous speeches, and the miniaturization of well-known books such as The Compleat Angler, The Art of War, and Sherlock Holmes stories. Many are now collectors' items, with prices ranging from a few hundred to many thousands of US dollars.

Notable miniature books

Ambrosius Lobwasser: Die Psalme Davids: Nach fransösischer Melodeij in Teutsch Reimen gebracht. Basel, 1659 (a miniature book bound in tortoiseshell)

Notable editions of original-sized books

• Mini Constitution of Ukraine

Originally designed to be miniature

• Art in Miniature, by Margaret Hicks
• Peter and Donna Thomas Good Book Press
• The tiny books of Ian and Helen Macdonald's private press (The Gleniffer Press 1968-2007) The Gleniffer Press

Notable collections of miniature books

• Miniature Book Collection: Books ten centimeters or less in height, (1,596 titles). From the Rare Book and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress
• Indiana University Lilly Library, 4000 Years of Miniature Books, online exhibition
• Collection of Miniature Books at the McCune Collection
• Baku Museum of Miniature Books
• University of Iowa Special Collections and University Archives Miniature Monday

External links

• The Miniature Book Society
• The Gleniffer Press
• Miniature Book Press (Germany)
• Miniature Book Collection from the Rare Book and Special Collections Division in the Library of Congress
• Miniature Books Editorial