Hardcover
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 Day in the Workhouse
Agoura Hills, CA: [Barbara J. Raheb] Pennyweight Press, 1993. 32 pp. Approximately 5/8 x 15/16". LIMITED EDITION of 300 copies, this being #8. Red pyroxylin with gilt titles on spine and cover, previous owner's bookplate on front free endpaper, marbled endpapers, illustrated, signed and numbered on the colophon, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Barbara J. Raheb, 452)
Written by George Robert Sims (1847 - 1922), and English journalist, poet, dramatist, novelist, and bon vivant, Christmas Day in the Worklhouse is a dramatic monologue written as a ballad, first published in "The Referee" in 1877. It is a criticism of the harsh conditions in English and Welsh workhouses under the 1834 Poor Law. (Wikipedia)
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.
Chronicles of Texas, A Sesquicentennial Momento, 1836 - 1986
(San Antonio, TX: Windcrest Press, 1986). (29) pp. 3 x 2 1/4". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #19. Blue cloth over boards with metal flag on front cover, postage stamps tipped in, illustrations, signed by the author, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Windcrest Press, 2)
Valentine J. Poska is a librarian by profession who also publishes miniature books under his Windcrest Press Imprint. He also wrote other miniature books published by other publishers. He was an early member of the Miniature Book Society. This little book chronicles many important and trivia related events in the history of Texas, starting with Texas gaining its independence from Mexico and ending with Texas Sesquicentennial (with Dallas Cowboys superbowl wins and a political figures sprinkled in).
Complete Miniature Set of the Sherlock Holmes Stories
Van Nuys, CA: Barbara J. Raheb, 1979 - 1981. Complete 45 volume set, each volume 15/16 x 5/8". Black pyroxylin covers with gilt titles and decorations, mini bookplate on verso of front free endpaper in each volume, all housed in a miniature bookcase with two pewter bookends, in near fine condition. (Bradbury, Raheb 141 - 182)
Barbara Raheb published more than 500 miniature books in her lifetime, more than any other U.S. publisher during the 20th century. This set includes the elusive four volumes of Hound of the Baskervilles. Limited edition of 300 per volume, it is very difficult to find a complete set. Arthur Conan Doyle (1859 - 1930) was a British writer and physician. Although the Sherlock Holmes stories are his most well-known works and are milestone in the field of crime fiction, he was a prolific writer who also created science fiction/fantasy, humor, romances, poety, non-fiction, and historical stories.
Confieso
(Brooklyn): Soraya Marcano, 1996. (8) pp. Approximately 1 13/16 x 3". LIMITED EDITION of 3, this being #1. Layered printed paper and cloth over boards, accordion fold, illustrated, a short lyrical poem in Spanish, signed by the publisher, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Marcano 5)
Soraya Marcano was born in Puerto Rico in 1965 and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Her work includes mixed media, writing, objects, and digital work. Marcano's scarce miniature artist's books are all written, illustrated, printed and bound by her using various techniques including collagraph, linocut, handmade paper, stenciling, etching, and computer generated images and type. Her mixed media artwork has been exhibited internationally and it is represented in various public and private collections. A beautiful book with a lyrical poem about the author confessing to having fully loved and lived life.
Coyote and the Shooting Stars (Standard Edition)
Freeville, New York: Carol Schwartzott, 2022. Limited edition of 24. 2.5 x 3"; 26 pages. Miniature. Flutter book structure. Paper-bound with scanned images, some of which are additionally hand-colored. Digitally printed on Mohawk Via Vellum. Papers used: Rives BFK, Indian hand-marbled papers, and Japanese Momi. Of the edition, 12 presented in standard paper-covered drop-lid box; 12 presented in a handmade wooden box with a glass lid in which is a hand-beaded coyote and star. Signed and numbered by the artist.
This is a version of the Native American shooting stars creation myth featuring Coyote. He talks a star into lifting him in to the sky to dance. When he grows tired and lets go of the star, he plunges to earth creating a trail of light – a shooting star.
Crumbs From The Master's Table
New York: D. Appleton, 1831. 192 pp. Approximately 2 1/4 x 2 3/4". Blue cloth over boards, paper label on spine, corner bumping with small portion of boards showing through, otherwise in very good + condition. (Bradbury, D. Appleton, 1; Welsh 4865).
Daniel Appleton (1785-1849) began publishing in New York in 1831 and his first imprint was this miniature book. There are two editions of this book, both with 1831 on the title page. One edition has numbered pages and "stereotype edition" on the title page. The other edition has unnumbered pages and no mention of "stereotype edition". It is not possible to know which version came first. This edition was 2,000 copies and was very popular as inspirational books had a good market at that time.
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.