New Arrivals
Árpádok : I. Andrástól I. Gézáig (1046-1077)
Budapest: Pátria Nyomda, 1988. 433 pp. Approximately 1 1/2 x 1 3/4". LIMITED EDITION of 400-600 copies, this being #179. Brown leather with beautifully designed and colorful enamelled metal plaque edged in gilt decoration on front cover, title in gilt on spine, gilt decoration on back cover, decorative endpapers, 7 full-color illustrations and 4 tinted one with two folding diagrams, text in Hungarian, in fine condition.
This is volume 14 of the Kings of Hungary series. Only 3 Worldcat Holdings at this time.
Little Tales (4 volumes)
Guben & London: F. Fechner and A. & Joseph Myers & Co., [ca. 1861]. Approximately 2 x 3 1/4". Later printing. Four little volumes, each with a unique decorated cover which includes a textured piece of fake greenery pasted down, all four have a previous owner's name in ink on front free endpaper, all have some moderate wear, all have a beautiful colored frontispiece illustration and 3 of the volumes have another illustrated plate, in very good condition. (Welsh 2800, Spielman 152)
These miniature books were most likely printed in Germany for the English juvenile market. According to Spielman, Fenelon (1651 - 1715) was a famous French ecclesiastic who tutored Louis XIV's grandson, the Duke of Burgundy. It is no surprise then, that these little tales are moral and religious teachable moments for young children. The illustrations have "quite exceptional charm" and are beautifully colored.
London Almanack for the Year of Christ 1818
(London): (Printed for the Company of Stationers), 1818. Unpaginated. Approximately 1 1/4 x 2 1/4". Original red morocco slipcase with onlays in cream and green, gilt-tooled throughout, in fine condition; Pink outer wraps, most likely replacing a cover that usually matched the slipcase, first page called "Common Notes", all edges gilt, a good copy.
These miniature booklets have been published from the late 17th century until the Victorian era, and give monthly information for eclipses, phases of the moon, saints days, as well as lists of Royals and Lord Mayors, bank transfer days and other banking rates. In this copy, there is a folding view of the Royal Dramatic College.
Miniature Book Society Conclave XIV Keepsake
San Diego, CA: Iron Bear Press, 1996. 2 1/2 x3/4"; Gold board with paste-down label and attached miniature metal type piece, in fine condition.
Produced as a keepsake in a limited edition for the 14th MBS Conclave, held in San Francisco, CA, in fine condition.
Miniature Book Society Conclave XXVI Keepsakes
Various: Various, 2008. Fifteen miniature keepsakes made in limited editions from various publishers, along with a printed MBS auction list, all produced as keepsakes for the 26th MBS Conclave, held in San Diego, California, in fine condition.
Keepsake items from some of the best miniature book presses in the trade. Included are the following: Leonard Goldstein memorial by Gray Goose Press, book quotes ring-bound by Kathy King, book-shaped eraser by Neale M. Albert, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue by Janet King, Places of Interest in San Diego USA by Angel Press, miniature conclave pocket program, San Diego! by Muriel Underwood, miniature broadside by Blue Wave Bar & Grill, pamphlet by Frank & Jeanette Anderson, San Diego Marine Corps Base 1945 by Gray Goose Press, Silent Friends by The Bronte Press, bookmark by The Final Score, Miniature Bookplates by Darlene Cordova, Make-Your-Own Keepsake Kit by Karen Nyman, Button Book by Jan Becker, and a detailed record of the 84 items offered up for the live auction during the conclave along with some various publications about San Diego.
Miniature Book Society Conclave XIX Keepsakes
Various: Various, 2001. Fourteen miniature keepsakes made in limited editions from various publishers, along with a printed keepsake list and an Indianapolis 500 Mattel Hot Wheel race car, all produced as keepsakes for the 19th MBS Conclave, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, in fine condition.
Keepsake items from some of the best miniature book presses in the trade. Included are the following: Decorative pamphlet by Kathy King, Woodcut illustration by Peter & Donna Thomas, Laugh if You Like My Dowdy Looks by Coffey Grounds Press, Pense'es du XIXe Siecle by Kundig Press, A Homophonic Aesop by The Final Score, Cooking Under the Stars by Peter Grant (signed & numbered), Some Facts About Indiana by Frank J. Anderson, Wander the World while you Wander Indiana by Gray Goose Press, Beyond the Brickyard by Evron Collins (signed), Indiana All-'Round Tractor by Janet King, Not in Adomeit by Robert Massmann, Good Book Good Friend miniature bookmark by Patty & Gordon Marchal, Fishes in the Wabash by Brown Trout Press (numbered), Bread by Crimson Lion Press, printed list of most keepsake items along with bibliographic information, along with an Indianapolis 500 Mattel Hot Wheel race car and printed keepsake cloth bag.
Alphabet People
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter & Donna Thomas, 1989. 64 pp. 1 7/8 x 2 3/8"; LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #141. Printed paper over boards with illustrated paste-down label on cover, letterpress printed on Peter's handmade paper, illustrated by Tanya Thomas, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter & Donna Thomas, 42)
An interesting ABC book where the illustrations are based on Tanya Thomas, (the daughter of Peter and Donna), twisting her body into the shapes of letters of the alphabet and creating a drawing for each.
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.
An Incident of Border Warfare
Chicago, IL: Le Petit Oiseau Press, 1958. (26) pp. Approximately 1 9/16 x 2". LIMITED EDITION of 50 copies, this being #50. Pale green printed paper boards, 3/4 bound with black cloth, printed title label on spine, black and white illustrations throughout, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Petit Oiseau Press, 9).
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 miniature tells a story of Indian and pioneer conflict in West Virginia in 1786.
Tiny Texas
Austin, TX: Amistad Press, 1982. (106) pp. Approximately 1 7/8 x 2 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 335 copies. Brown cloth over printed paper boards with gilt line, illustrated, original packaging, signed by the publisher on the rear free endpaper, fine condition. (Bradbury, Amistad Press 42)
Known for it's big size, this interesting little book points out the small things that are from/in Texas, including plants, people, places, etc. Reprinted with permission from the December 1979 issue of Texas Monthly.