While there are various definitions for small and miniature books available, in Special Collections, a book is usually considered “small” if it measures less than 14 centimeters in height (about 5 1/2 inches). Three inches or less in all directions defines the size for a miniature book. Small and miniature books date from the earliest of incunabula (the earliest European works printed prior to 1501). Type size, binding, illustrations, and paper must all be proportionate to the edition.  The subject matter for small books encompasses religious works, scientific works, art, reference, and, of course, children’s books. Initial reasons for producing small works are a matter of speculation. But to the collector, small size can have quite a number of advantages. Their size makes them very portable—one person can carry an entire small library with little difficulty (Napoleon is said to have carried a traveling miniature library).  Additionally, small books take up little shelf space when housed.  Tiny volumes are a challenge to create; excellent craftsmanship is very much admired.  A beautiful box or case often accompanies a small book. The books in this exhibit are mostly from the Shaw Childhood in Poetry Collection except where noted. Our exhibit of Small and Miniature Books is open to the public in Special Collections at Strozier Library between 9:00 and 6:00 Monday through Friday from December 1998 to June 1999.

For more information about small and miniature books,  the Miniature Book Society has an extensive site. A history of miniature books and definitions of the various sizes of small books can be found at Octogamm.
 

 Seasonal Books and Book Sets

1.  Carabine Sue. A Cat’s Night Before Christmas.  Salt Lake City: Gibbs Smith, 1996.  This little take-off on the traditional version is part of the Louise Richardson Night Before Christmas Collection.

2.  Moore, Clement C. A Visit From St. Nicholas.  Library of Congress Facsimile No. 6. Washington, 1976.  This is a facsimile of the edition published in 1864 by L. Prang & Co., Boston.

3.  Brooks, Phillips.  Christmas Carols. London: Ernest Nisler, no date.  This little book of carols has
beautiful color illustrations on glossy pages.

4.  Moore, Clement C.  The Night Before Christmas.  Kansas City: Hallmark Editions, 1971.  This little book, featuring the illustrations of Thomas Nast, who is credited for the creation of the American style Santa, is part of the Louise Richardson Night Before Christmas Collection.

5.  Moore, Clement C.  The Night Before Christmas.  Illustrated by Tasha Tudor. Worcester: Achille J. St. Onge, 1962.

6.  Edward Lear’s Miniature Books Containing 5 Well-known Rhymes.  London: Fredrick Warne & Co. , no date.  Boxed sets of small books are very popular.  This set contains five of Lear’s best-loved works.

7.  Moore, Clement C. The Night Before Christmas.  Kurt S. Adler, 1777.  This tiny little book is actually meant to be a Christmas tree ornament and is part of the Louise Richardson Night Before Christmas Collection.

8. Knight, Hilary. Christmas Nutshell Library. New York: Harper & Row, 1963.  This little collection
contains four short Christmas stories.

9.  The Burns Country.  London: The “Post Book” Company, no date.  This little book is meant to be a travel guide, complete with map, itinerary, historical notes, color illustrations, and even songs.

10.  Sendak, Maurice.  Nutshell Library.  New York: Harper & Row, 1962.  This little collection contains an alphabet book, a counting book, a book of months, and a cautionary tale.

11.  Blackie’s Children’s Diary.  Verses and Pictures by Florence Harrison.  London: Blackie & Son, 1921.  This little diary has many entries by a very young hand.

12.  Very, Lydia L. Red Riding Hood.  Boston: L. Prang & Co., 1863.  This little book has been die cut into the shape of Red Riding Hood.

13.  The Story of Little Red Riding Hood in Pictures and Verse and Other Selections for the Little Folks.  Zanesville: Schultz & Co., no date.  This colorful little book of verse for children was produced by the Star Soap Company to promote their product.

Birthday  Books

Birthday books are given as gifts to young and old alike to keep track of birthday dates of family and friends.  Often they have a theme and illustrations with quotations.  Many of ours have several entries written in juvenile hands.

14.  Kate Greenaway’s Birthday Book for Children.   With 382 illustrations, drawn by Kate Greenaway, Verses by Mrs. Sale Barker.  London: George Routledge and Sons, no date.  This little birthday book has both black and white and color illustrations.

15.  The Longfellow Birthday Book.  Arranged by Cecilia Dixon.  London: George Routledge and Sons, no date.  This little birthday book is more for the adult reader.

16.  Lieut.-Col. Secombe’s Army and Navy Birthday Book with Illustrations for Every Day and Month.  London: George Routledge and Sons, no date.  A birthday book with a military flair for children.

17.  The Homeland Birthday Book, Robert Louis Stevenson.  Edinburgh: Andersons, no date.   This little birthday book has a plaid cover, each page is framed with a sepia floral border.

18. Birthday Chimes from Burns, Selections from his Poems, Songs, and Ballads.  Edinburgh: W. P.
Nimmo, Hay, & Mitchell, no date.  This little birthday book has a quotation for each day.

Children’s Books with a Lesson or Moral

19. Lavater, J. C. The Little Keepsake, Selected in Part From the Writings of the Celebrated J. C. Lavater, an American Parent.  New York: S. Coleman, 1843.  This little book of poems and short passages are meant to be inspirational and instructional for the young reader.

20.  Watts, Isaac.  Divine and Moral Songs.  With illustrations by Mrs. Arthur Gaskin.  London: Elkin Matthews, no date.  This little book has lovely illustrations.

21.  Sigourney, Mrs. L. H.  The Child’s Book.  New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1851.  This little book  contains stories and poems that are instructive and educational.

22. Aesop’s Fables. Illustrated by Charles Robinson. London: Minerva, 1974.  While this is a fairly modern edition of an old classic, the beautiful black and white illustrations are evocative of the Art Nouveau period.

23.  Potter, Beatrix.  The Tale of Benjamin Bunny. New York: Fredrick Warne & Co., 1904.  This little book is part of the Rare Book Collection.

24.  Tuer, Andrew W. Old London Street Cries and the Cries of Today with Heaps of Quaint Cuts.  London: Field & Tuer, The Londonhall Press, 1885.  This little book has a hand colored woodcut opposite the title page.

25.  Wright, G. The Poetical Looking Glass by Bob Short, Improved.  No publisher’s imprint.  This little book is a handwriting manual containing two line maxims for young hands to copy.

26.  Paul Revere’s Ride: A Deposition.  With an introduction by Esther Forbes.  Worcester: Achille J. St. Onge, 1966.  This tiny book is one of one thousand copies printed.

27.  Kipling, Rudyard.  Hymn Before Action.  New York: Fredrick Thompson, 1902.  The uncut pages and unusual spacing of the text were typical of small press editions.

28.  Stevenson, Robert Louis. A Child’s Garden of Verses.  Akron: Saalfield Publishing.  1895.  This tiny book of poetry is bound in a brown suede stamped in gold.

29.  Miss Sanders. Edmund, A Tale for Children.  London: J. Mawman, 1802.  This little book has a unique printed cloth cover.

30.  Hill, Clara. The Poetic Primer: a Circlet of Little Rhymes for Little Readers.  London: Edward Lacey, no date.  The author states in her introduction that these poems are suitable for ages four or five and up.

Children’s Books for Play or Fun

31.  Archer, Jean C. Fishy-Winkle.  London: Grant Richards, 1903.  This little book written in verse has color illustrations that depict Oriental children.

32. The Snow-Drop: a Collection of Rhymes for the Nursery.  New Haven: S. Babcock, no date.  While there is no author listed on the little book itself, it is credited to Ann and Jane Taylor about 1845 and is one of the group of  “Toy Books”.  The Taylors of Ongar, mother and daughter, were prolific writers of poetry for children.

33. Janeway, Elizabeth. Angry Kate. Illustrated by Chas. B. Slackman.  New York: Harper & Row, 1963.  This little book is an amusing story about an angry little girl who went to live with animals at the zoo because she hated people.

34.  Tilton, Theodore. The Fly.  New York: Sheldon & Co., no date.  This little paper back book is a poem about a mother showing her baby all of the interesting things about a fly.

35.  Matheson, Annie. Happy Childhood. London: Raphael Tuck & Sons, no date.  This little book of poems has a very Victorian flavor with a flowery typeface and sentimental illustrations.

36.  The Rabbit Book.  Illustrated by Mary Tourtel.  London: Anthony Treherne & Co., no date.  This unusually sized little book is one of a series called the “Stump Books”.

37. Seaver, Robert.  Ye Butcher, Ye Baker, Ye Candlestick-Maker, Being Sundry Amusing and Instructive Verses for Both Old and Young.  New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1908. The amusing woodcut illustrations and quaint phrasing give a feel for an earlier time in children’s books.

38.  Byron, May.  Just for a Change.  Illustrated by Rosa C. Petherick.  London: Henry Frowde and Hodder and Stoughton, no date.  This little book, with color illustrations, is about the day a girl and her doll changed places.

39.  Alice’s Flip Book.  New York: Rayher Merrimac, 1982.  This little book was meant to have the pages flipped quickly to create an image of the Cheshire Cat disappearing to only a grin.

40. Tom Thumb’s Play Book.  Fredric G.Melcher, 1960.  This tiny book is a facsimile of one published in Boston by Barclay about 1760.  The original is said to have been printed by Isaiah Thomas, a famous Massachusetts printer, (see number 56) during his apprenticeship in Boston.

41. The History and Adventures of Little Eliza, a Companion to Little Fanny, Illustrated with a Series of Elegant Figures.  London: R. Harrild, ca. 1815.  This little book is a paper back with hand-colored engravings which was unusual for the time period.

42.  Butler, George O.  Butterfly Babies.  Chicago: Magill Weinsheimer, 1917.  This little book was intended as a gift for the new baby.

Adult Books from Around the World

43. Morley, Christopher. A Ride in the Cab of the Twentieth Century Limited.  No pulisher listed, 1928.  This little paperback edition has a pattern of railroad tracks adorning the cover.

44.  Griswold, Rufus W., editor. The Poetry of Love.  New York: Leavitt & Company, 1850.  The cover of this little book of poetry is beautifully embossed and decorated with a gold cupid.

45.  The History of John Gilpin of Cheapside. A Droll Story. And the Historical Ballad of the Children in the Wood. Glasgow: Lumsden & Son, no date.  This little book is one of a group of “Toy Books”.

46.  Morin, Louis. Vieille Idylle.  Paris: Librarie L Conquet, 1891.  This little French Book is beautifully bound and illustrated with line drawings.  It is from the Rare Book Collection.

47.  Wilde, Oscar. The Selfish Giant. Ellington, Connecticut: Yankee Ink Dauber, no date.  This tiny book is #75 of one hundred copies printed. This tiny book is from the Rare Book Collection.

48.  Wickham, Joan. Saint Augustine Florida 1565-1965.  Worcester: Achille J. St. Onge., 1967.  This tiny book contains the history of the city of St. Augustine. It is from the Rare Book Collection.

49.  Hunter, Dard. Dard Hunter on Papyrus.  New Britain Connecticut: Art Press, 1971.  This tiny shape book is an excerpt from The Story of Early Printing and is one of fifty copies printed. It is from the Rare Book Collection.

50.  Constitution de La Republique Francaise.  Paris: Imprimerie de Chapelet, 1795. This small book is part of the Rare Book collection.

51.  Morris, William. Child Christopher and Goldlind the Fair.  Volume 1.  Hammersmith: Kelmscott Press, 1895.  This little book is part of the Kelmscott Press Collection.

52.  Walsdorf, John J. editior.  Printers on Morris.  Beaverdam, Oregon: Beaverdam Press, 1981.  This tiny book is dedicated to the memory of William Morris and is covered with William Morris type fabric. It is from the Rare Book Collection.

53.  Marshall, John David.  One Librarian’s Credo.  Morro Bay California: Tabula Rasa Press, 1986.  This tiny book is from the Rare Book Collection.

54.  Le Lavater Des Dames ou L’art de Connoitre Les Femmes sur Leur Physionomie avec Trente Planches Coloriees.  Second edition.  Paris, Hocquart, 1809.  This small French book is part of the Napoleon Collection.

55. Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet.  London: Burgess & Bowes, c.1900.  This tiny book is a
“Midget Classic” from the Rare Book Collection.

56.  The Picture Exhibition, Containing the Original Drawings of Eighteen Disciples To Which are Added Moral and Historical Explanations.  Worcester: Isaiah Thomas, 1788.  This little book states on the title page that it was “published under the inspection of Mr. Peter Paul Rubens, Professor of Polite Arts.”

57.  Pieces Echapees Aux XVI Premiers Almanches des Muses.  Paris: Chez la Ve Duchene, 1781.  This little book is beautifully bound in leather and marbelized paper.  It is from the Rare Book Collection.

58. Swan, Annie S.  Love’s Crown: Songs of Memory and Hope.  Edinburgh: W. P. Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell, no date listed.  This small book of poetry is bound in emerald green suede with gold lettering and gilt edges.  The front and back end papers are beautifully colored landscapes.

Religious Books for Children and Adults

59.  Watts, Isaac. Divine Songs, Attempted in Easy Language, for the Use of Children.   No publisher’s  imprint, 1780.  These songs have no music and are short with easy messages.

60.  New Testament.  Glasgow : David Bryce and Son , 1895.  This is a complete New Testament and printed by the “printers of the smallest books in the world”.  It is part of the Rare Book Collection.

61.  Seder tefilot Yisra'el : kolel be-tokho kol ha-tefilot vehabakashot asher ya`arokh kol ish Yisra'el le-elohav ... Tel-Aviv: "Sinai" Publishing, 1958. This small religious book has a metal cover with scenes of Jerusalem depicted.  It is part of the Rare Book Collection.

62.  Compendio Historico de la Religion, Desde la Creacion del Mundo Hasta es Estado Presente la Iglesia, Compuesto.   Tomo Segundo.  Pamplona: La Vieuda de Ezquerro, 1784. This little book is part of the Rare Book Collection.

63.  The Psalmes of King David Translated by King James.   Oxford: William Turner, 1631. This little book has been beautifully rebound and the text is in excellent condition.

64.  Williamson, Rebecca.  Sermons to Children to Which Are Added Short Hymns Suited to the Subject. London: Philanthropic Society, no date.  This little book is intended to instruct children in religious education.

65.  Brady, N. and N. Tate.  A New Version of the Psalms of David, Fitted to the Tunes Used in Churches.  London: W. Strahan, 1780.  This beautiful little book is bound in red leather and decorated in gold.

66.  Mrs. Trimmer.  Scripture Lessons, Designed to Accompany A Series of Prints from the Old Testament. London: Baldwin, Craddock, and Joy, 1825.  This beautifully bound little book is from the Rare Book Collection.

67.  The Book of Hours of Pannonhalma, the Codex Preserved in the Library of the Abbey of Pannonhalma.  Budapest: Helikon Kiado, 1982.  This small book is a facsimile copy of a book of hours and is in the Rare Book Collection.

68.  Bunyan, John.  Scenes from the Pilgrim’s Progress.   London: B. Blake, no date.  This small book was meant for the instruction of children.

69.  Doddridge, P. The Principles of the Christian Religion Expressed in Plain and Easy Verse.  Coventry: N. Merridew, the date of 1811 is pencilled in.  With blockprints and a marbleized paper cover, this tiny pamphlet was probably meant to be instructional and inspirational.

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