Products
Baba Yaga
Riverside, CA: Bo Press Miniature Books, 2012. 18 pages. Approximately 1 1/4 x 2 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 20 copies, this being #20. Decorated slipcase with printed Japanese paper, metallic design elements, and black tanned chicken leather. Printed Japanese paper with black chicken leather quarter-bound, 5 bands on spine, printed label on front cover, signed and numbered on the colophon by the author, black and white illustrations throughout, all contents in fine condition.
The joke in this book is that the slipcase and book use chicken leather and Baba Yaga's hut is perched on chicken legs. Both the book and case showcase Pat Sweet's blend of innovative design elements along with a classical bound style. Based on the Slavic folklore tales of Baba Yaga, these stories reflect her as an old woman who has a benevolent relationship with forest wildlife, as well as a scary witch-woman. No more copies of this edition are currently for sale on the market (as of 9/20).
Beau-Beau's 123
Watertown, MA: Kurbel Books, 1985. (21) pp. Approximately 2 1/2 x 2 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 500 copies, this being #68. Pictorial paper wrappers with accordion fold pages, in pictorial paper wrappers, all housed in a clear plastic box, illustrated by author, layout by Robert E. Massmann, frontispiece portrait by Fred G. Moynihan, Jr., in fine condition. (Bradbury, Kurbel Books #4)
A counting book and a commemoration at the same time, showing the ten stages in this dog's life as told in illustrated pictures and hand-colored numbers.
Benjamin Franklin, September 17, 1787
Salisbury, CT: Lime Rock Press, 1981. 25 pp. Approx. 1 x 1". Printed with two bindings: one suede and the other cowhide. Brown leather with Franklin's signature in gilt on the cover, marbled endpapers, housed in clear plastic case, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Lime Rock 10)
From the Great American Speeches series, this little book relays the speech Franklin gave, urging his fellow delegates to join ranks in signing the new United States constitution. His speech was given a standing ovation. Lime Rock Press is the private press of Whitney North Seymour, Jr. and is run also by his wife and daughters who contribute photography, art, printing and binding.
Bernhardt Wall in Miniature
Worcester, MA: Robert C. Bradbury, 2007. 31 pp. Approximately 2 1/2 x 3". LIMITED EDITION of 45 copies. Blue cloth over boards with pictorial paper label on upper cover, marbled endpapers, letterpress, three mounted illustrations, in fine condition.
Bernhardt Wall (1872 - 1956) was an American historian and lithographic illustrator. He was known as the "Postcard King" as he designed more than 5,000 comic cards. He worked with a variety of publishers over his career and specialized in famous people and historical events. Each copy of the regular edition is illustrated with three original miniature etchings by Bernhardt Wall, at least one of which is an illustration. Special copies have thematically related illustrations and deluxe copies have additional etchings mounted in matching volumes. This little book includes bibliography/listing of miniature illustrations by Wall. Only 2 library holdings and not in the trade at the moment (5/22). Somewhat scarce.
Bible Stories and Pictures
New Haven, CT: Sidney Babcock, 1844. Paperback, 2 x 3 1/2"; Illustrated with title page vignette of the Crucifixion and cover page vignette of Lazarus raised to life; seven wood engravings, 16 pp. Minor foxing and some tranference of ink to title page from cover. Very good condition.
A collection of seven bible stories for children, each one with its own preliminary illustration. Stories include: Moses Viewing Canaan; Samson Carrying Away the Gates of Gaza; David and Goliath; John Baptizing Christ; Water Changed to Wine; Christ Blessing Children; and Conversion of Saint Paul.
Business Worries
Enkhuizen, Holland: J. R. Levien, 1970. [18] pp. Approx. 3/4 x 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 100 copies. Blue leather over boards with gilt stamped design on cover, black and white illustrations throughout, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Levien 9)
This little book is cited as an old Jewish story from Amsterdam. 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.
Calendar 1925
New York: Tiffany & Co., 1924. Unpaginated. Approximately 2 1/2 x 3 1/4". Brown leather with elaborate gilt decorations and frames on covers, minor stains to rear cover, a few ink marks on the February calendar and yearly calendars in the back, in near fine condition.
A beautiful calendar for 1925, including the following: Memoranda pages, Birth Stones, Wedding Anniversaries, Anniversaries and Festivals, Legal Holidays in New York State, Sterling Silver Marks (used by Tiffany & Co.), Calendar for 1925, and a Chronology of Tiffany & Co. Essentially, any gift giving occasion has been laid out for you by Tiffany & Co. Founded in 1837 as a "stationery and fancy goods" store, it later grew to be more famous for it's jewelry, china, and decorations.
Carletta; or "Going to Sing in Heaven"
Boston: American Tract Society, (ca 1850). 64 pp. 1 1/2 x 2". Brown cloth over blind stamped boards, gilt title and design on cover with gilt decorations on spine, owner's name on two front free endpapers, all edges gilt, text block attached upside down to cover, some foxing throughout, otherwise in near fine condition.
A juvenile Christian story, touching on the typical topics of salvation, Christian life and conversion. No date on this publication, likely because the tracts were often reprinted.
Cats
Spartanburg, SC: Kitemaug Press, 1968. [8] pp. Approx. 1 1/8 x 13/16". Tan paper wrapper with title on cover, 4 unnumbered leaves, letterpress, illustrations of cats, in fine condition. Very scarce - not found in WorldCat at this time (6/22). (Bradbury, Kitemaug Press 5)
Kitemaug Press is run by Frank J. Anderson and is a private press. The name Kitemaug comes from the Mohegan Indian language and it means "the place of good fishing." Anderson started printing in 1965 so this book is from very early on in his career.
Christmas in the Olde Coaching Days
[Manteno, IL]: Bronte Press, 1989. Approximately 2 3/4 x 2 1/8", oblong. (22) pp. First Edition. LIMITED EDITION of 75 copies, this being #61. Decorated paper boards with printed labels, letterpress, hand-colored illustrations by the author, signed and numbered on the colophon by Pruchnicki, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Bronte Press 21)
Printing since 1981, Bronte Press miniatures are notable in that all of the illustrations are original works and are often hand-colored. This beautiful miniature tells a charming story of a coachman's adventures during the Christmas season.