Products
13 Virtues and Precepts (Founding Fathers' Rule Books series)
Salisbury, CT: Lime Rock Press, 1985. 2 1/8 x 2 1/2". 64 pp. Tan paper wrappers, black lettering on cover along with facsimile signature, illustrated portrait on rear cover, printed by offset lithography, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Lime Rock 21)
Reproduced portions of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography, this book demonstrates the 12 virtuous habits that Ben Franklin set out for himself as a young man. He practiced them daily. Later in life, a friend encouraged him to add "humility" as a 13th virtue and Ben did, although he said he didn't really perfect it, just the appearance of perfecting it. An inspirational read!
14 Rules of Civility (Founding Fathers' Rule Books series)
Salisbury, CT: Lime Rock Press, 1985. 2 1/8 x 2 1/2". 64 pp. Red paper wrappers, black lettering on cover along with facsimile signature, illustrated portrait on rear cover, printed by offset lithography, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Lime Rock 22)
Reproduced portions of George Washington's copybook, copied from Francis Hawkins' "Youth's Behaviour", this book demonstrates 14 of 110 items of advice written to young people. Much of this advice is still applicable today, such as "Be not hasty to believe flying reports to the disparagement of any one."
A Bestiary
Boston: Anne & David Bromer, 1979. [19] pp. approx. 2 1/4 x 2 1/16", oblong. LIMITED EDITION of 125 copies, this being #87. Marbled wrap with title label over marbled cover with title label, 15 wood engravings,letterpress on Troya paper, signed by the artist on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Bromer 5)
Sarah Chamberlain has illustrated books from Aesop’s Fables to Margarette Reid’s The Button Box. She studied under renowned printmakers and illustrators Barry Moser and Leonard Baskin, and from the 1970s to the 1980s ran the Chamberlain Press.
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court
Tarzana, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1981. 31 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #165. Burgundy pyroxylin cover with gilt titles and decorations on spine and cover, illustrated, signed on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Raheb 329)
Mark Twain's (1835 - 1910) humorous alternate history story, first published in 1889.
A Hatphabet
Spartanburg, SC: Kitemaug Press, 1996. (27) pp. 3 x 2 1/4", oblong; LIMITED EDITION of 40 copies, this being #13. Purple boards, printed label on cover, letterpress, accordion fold opens up to 76 1/2 inches, hand-colored illustrations, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Kitemaug Press 84)
A lovely ABC book, with each page showing a hat corresponding to the alphabet. A few examples are N is for Night cap, S if for Stetson, and T is for Tam-o-shanter.
A History of the Holy Bible
Cincinnati: Published by [Wesley] Coleman and [William] Phillips. Morgan, Williams and Co., Printers., 1815. 1st Edition (Adomeit A34; American Imprints 34917; Bradbury, p. 63; Welch 861.2). Not in Rosenbach, nor Welsh. [2 (blank)], v, [6] - 167, [3 (blank)] pp. Divisional t.p., "History of the New Testament", p. 77. "Appendix" t.p., p. 135. "Psalms" t.p., p. 151. 2-1/2" x 1-1/2". Period brown full calf binding. Modest wear to binding, with boards a bit splayed. Some browning & ageing to paper, with the occasional short edge tear to a leaf [no text affected]. A Good - VG item.
The first miniature book published in Ohio, and quite rare in the trade. RBH records the last appearance as in a 1964 Midland catalogue [this copy?]
A Miniature Book, Tie, and Suspenders from the estate of Julian Edison
New York: Abrams and The Grolier Club, 2007. Miniature edition and exact facsimile of the larger book "Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures" by Bromer & Edison; Maroon silk tie with white/gold/red tiny books from His Favorite Tie Neckwear housed in original plastic box packaging; Navy silk suspenders with red/green/gold books and bronze clasps from Paul Stuart, made in England, all from the estate of Julian Edison, all in fine condition.
Julian Edison (1929 - 2017) was an internationally renowned miniature book collector and co-author with Anne. C Bromer of Bromer Booksellers. Julian was an influential support of Washing University Libraries in St. Louis and the Special Collections there has been renamed the Julian Edison Department of Special Collections.
A Small Collection, Fauna/ Flora/ Fists/ Follies
Oxford, England: The Alembic Press, 1990 - 1992. Four volumes, each 1 1/2 x 2". Marbled paper over boards with various color cloth spines, titles on spine either in gilt or paper label, limited to 100 copies each, all numbered #70 on the colophon, letterpress, in fine condition with fine marbled paper slipcase.
Nearly all the Alembic Press's books are about, or illustrate, aspects of letterpress printing, type, illustration, or paper and bookbinding. A Small Collections of Fists (1990) shows various sizes and styles of fists that printers have used from early days to draw attention to certain texts. A Small Garden of Flora (1991) shows various printer's flowers from the Alembic Press collection. A Small Farm of Fauna (1992) show various animal letterpress blocks with a loose concern with endangered species. A Foible of Follies (1992) shows typographical blocks that have "proved so far to be of little or no practical use whatsoever." A beautiful set of books sure to please anyone.
A Tribute to Sig
Enkhuizen, Holland: J. R. Levien, 1970. [14] pp. Approx. 3/4 x 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 100 copies. Maroon leather over boards with gilt stamped design on cover, black and white illustrations throughout, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Levien 10)
This little book is a tribute to Sigmund Freud and his thoughts on sex. Naked people cartoon illustrations. First printing under the imprint of Trader's Press in New York from 1967 - 1969, Jack R. Levien then moved to Holland and published under his own name from 1970 - 1972. In those six years, he published 46 miniature books.
A Victorian Vampire Hunter's Trunk
Riverside, CA: Bo Press Miniature Books, 2021. Approximately 2 x 2 3/4 x 1 7/8". Trunk has been varnished, antique inspired brass handles and protective bars, vampire bat head and wings on trunk cover and edges, inside wood panel covered by snakeskin. Contents include: 8 replica reference books pertaining to vampire eradication, a stack of miniature letters, a folder of miniature replica middle-European maps, a set of wooden stakes and gun, glass specimen bottles and glass tubes containing fake blood samples, and other various miniature items. Both trunk and contents in fine condition.
A distinguished-looking 19th century trunk fitted-out for vampire hunting, done in miniature form. Very charming.