Products
Detti e Motti Triestini
Milan, Italy: Legatoria Conti Borbone dei Fratelli Marchesi, 1989. (32) pp. 1 1/4 x 1 3/4". Marbled paper over boards, 7 illustrations, text in Italian, in fine condition.
The title translates to Triestine sayings and mottos. A lovely well-made miniature book. Since 1873, bookbinding Conti Borbone has been a reference point for luxury objects and bindings.
Dew-Drops Diary
Tarzana, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1980. 48 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies. Green leather, brass clasp with little jewel, deluxe version with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, decorated endpapers, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 211)
A lovely book of daily inspirations verses from the scripture. "My speech shall distill as the dew" Deut. 32:2 is also on the title page. A scarce deluxe copy of this edition.
Dippa, Kippa, Leepa
Pasadena, CA: Tabula Rasa Press, 1981. Miniature book, 2 1/8 x 2"; Letterpress, gilt leather spine, cloth boards, 89 pp, some rubbing to spine. Printed using type Granjon on 100 percent rag, Cranes crest, number 165 of 300 copies, (Bradbury, Tabula Rasa Press 20).
An enchanting tale about a young Greek boy going to American school for the first time and learning the English language. Scarce in the trade. 6 institutional holdings in OCLC.
Dracula's Guest
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979. 40 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #21. Black pyroxylin, gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, marbled endpapers, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 136)
From Project Gutenberg: A few months before the lamented death of my husband—I might say even as the shadow of death was over him—he planned three series of short stories for publication, and the present volume is one of them. To his original list of stories in this book, I have added an hitherto unpublished episode from Dracula. It was originally excised owing to the length of the book, and may prove of interest to the many readers of what is considered my husband’s most remarkable work. The other stories have already been published in English and American periodicals. Had my husband lived longer, he might have seen fit to revise this work, which is mainly from the earlier years of his strenuous life. But, as fate has entrusted to me the issuing of it, I consider it fitting and proper to let it go forth practically as it was left by him.
FLORENCE BRAM STOKER
E-I-E-I-O (Eileen, Eileen, Oh!)
Hyattsville, MD: Rebecca Press and Poole Press, 1992. (20) pp. Approximately 2 3/8 x 2 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 201 copies. Stiff printed paper wrapprers, stitched. A fine copy. (Bradbury, Rebecca Press, 24)
A collaboration between two well-known miniature publishers, humorous in nature, published for the Conclave 10 of the Miniature Book Society.
Ethical Setting
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2019. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 1/4". First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 10 copies. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press, black cloth over boards with silver spider web design, paper title label on removable band, accordion fold, printed on translucent vellum and Neenah Classic Stipple, signed and numbered by the publisher on the colophon, in fine condition.
This John Dos Passos (1896 - 1970) quotation is from The Theme is Freedom (1956). Patrice Miller's work has found its way to private and university collections, in the states and abroad. Human foibles, nature’s panoply, and artistic cleverness cannot help but inform future work. She continues to bind, and rebind, in Dallas, Texas.
Eulogies to the late President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Delivered in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol, November 24, 1963
New Britain, CT: J.L.Kapica, 1964. 30 pp. Approximately 2 1/2 x 2". LIMITED EDITION, although this is not one of the 50 numbered copies. Black leather, gold lettering, a.e.g., marbled endpapers, portrait frontis. A near fine copy. Not in Bradbury.
Contributions by Mike Mansfield, Earl Warren, and John McCormack.
Frederick Law Olmsted at Biltmore
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2023. Approximately 3 x 2 3/4", oblong. LIMITED EDITION of 10 copies, this being #9. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press. Green photographic paper cover with green leather quarter bound, extra endpapers on special paper, stamp frontispiece, colophon and limitation which is, signed and numbered by the publisher, illustrations, in fine condition. Beautifully structured and well-written biography.
Frederick Law Olmsted (1922 - 1903) was an American landscape architect, as well as a public administrator, social critic, and journalist. He was famous for co-designing many well known parks such as New York's Central Park, Brooklyn's Prospect Park, as well as the campuses of Wellesley College, Smith College, Stanford University and the University of Chicago. Olmsted not only designed the landscape architecture of the Biltmore for George Vanderbilt II, but he designed the Biltmore Village to replicate the working estates of Europe. He was an important early conservationist and he encouraged the full use of naturally occurring features of any given space.
Patrice Miller's work has found its way to private and university collections, in the states and abroad. Human foibles, nature’s panoply, and artistic cleverness cannot help but inform future work. She continues to bind, and rebind, in Dallas, Texas.
Good Books: A Bibliography of the Books Made by Peter & Donna Thomas, 1978-1991
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1992. 97 pp. Approximately 2 x 2 3/4". LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #195. Brown leather spine with two bands 1/4 bound over slightly worn marbled boards, gilt title on spine with a little wear, letterpress on publisher's handmade paper, illustrated by Donna, Tanya, and Suzanne Thomas, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Thomas 41; P&D Thomas Bibliography A73)
A lovely binding and an interesting book with an introduction that details the start of the business and collaboration with others while learning their craft. Black and white illustrations throughout and a bibliography of their various miniature and larger books made by Peter and Donna Thomas from 1978 - 1991.
Heraldry
Chicago, IL: Doris. V. Welsh, 1956. 33 pp. Approximately 1 1/2 x 1 7/8". LIMITED EDITION of 150 copies. Gold printed paper boards, 3/4 bound with black cloth, printed title label on spine, hand-colored illustrations, minor edge rubbing, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Petit Oiseau Press, 7).
Doris Welsh was probably the greatest authority about miniature books in the second half of the 20th century. She collected, wrote about, and published miniature books entirely by herself. Born in 1907 in Pittsburgh, and after receiving her A.B, B.L.S. and M.S. degrees from different colleges, she eventually joined the Newberry Library in 1947 as cataloguer. She remained at the Library until 1970 when she retired. She started publishing her own books in 1952. (MBS newsletter, 11/2013). This book was hand set, printed & bound by Doris Welsh. This interesting little book provides an overview of the history of heraldry and touch on succession, women, and English vs. American heraldry.