hardcover
Friends
Cincinnati, OH: Mosaic Press, [1980]. [14] pp. Approximately 3/4 x 1". Illustrated wrapper with single staple, black and white illustrations, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Mosaic Press 33)
Miriam Irwin Owen published miniature books under her Mosaic Press imprint. Most of her books consist of original material written by authors recruited by Irwin, who published what she enjoys reading. Miriam was a founder of the Miniature Book Society. Unable to find if Cynthia Irwin is related to Miriam Irwin in any way. Copy of the Mosaic Press miniature book catalog from October, 1980 included as a bonus item.
Goethes Briefe an Charlotte von Stein. Herausgegeben von Jonas Fränkel. Kritische Gesamtausgabe. 3 Bände.
Jena, Germany: Eugen Diederichs, 1908. 3 volumes in German. Approximately 4 3/4 x 7 1/2". Red cloth over boards, gilt lettering and design stamped crisply on spine, top edges gilt, illustrated endpapers, ribbons intact, some minor rubbing and wear, 1 portrait, 2 facsimiles and 26 hand drawings by Goethe on mounted panels, in near fine condition.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) was a German writer and statesman. His writings were diverse and included poetry, prose, dramas, memoirs, criticisms, treatises on some sciences, letters, and an autobiography. A friend to the Duke of Save-Weimar, Goethe went to live in Weimar where he met Charlotte von Stein in 1776. She was an older, married woman but they had an intimate bond which lasted for ten years. Von Stein was a lady-in-waiting at the court in Weimar and a close friend to both Friedrich Schiller and von Goethe, whose work and life were strongly influenced by her. Geothe abruptly abandoned Charlotte without telling her anything and she was heartbroken although they eventually reconciled. This work of 3 volumes is separated into distinct time periods - Vol 1: 1776 - 1780, Vol 2: 1781 - 1784, Vol 3: 175-85 - 1826.
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.
Gorey Games
San Francisco: Troubador Press, 1979. 8 1/2 x 11". First Edition. No jacket, as issued. Black boards with gilt-stamped title on cover and spine, beautiful red endpapers, illustrated by Gorey throughout including a previously unpublished drawing, limited edition of 750 copies, slight sticker residue on back cover, otherwise in near-fine condition. (Toledano B64a)
A wonderful collection of games for any Gorey fan. Games include mazes, puzzles, hidden objects and more with Gorey's usual cast of characters, including Fantod, Osbick bird, Emblus Fingby, Gashlycrumb Tinies characters, Dracula, and of course Gorey himself.
Granny's Wonderful Chair
London: Griffith Farran Okeden & Welsh, n.d. (ca 1891). Hardcover, 7 3/4 x 10". 94 pp. Brown cloth over boards with pictorial cover, significant corner bumping and wear to edges, stains to cover, previous owner's inscription on half-title page indicating the year 1891, tear to front free endpaper, some tanning and stains, full-color frontispiece, 16 beautiful full page coloured illustrations by Marie Seymour Lucas, black and white illustrations throughout, good condition.
Originally published in 1856, this is a very early [1891] reprint of a wonderful children's book that is still in print today. Written by Francis Browne, who was known as the 'The Blind Poetess of Ulster'.
Gunner's Dawn
New York: The Derrydale Press, 1937. First Edition. Limited edition of 950, this being #78. Red simulated leather over boards with gilt decorations, some dulling to gilt, minor cover rubbing especially to spine edges, original signed etching as frontispiece, 5 color plates and 14 black and white plates with some tissue guards missing, a few pages unopened, gift inscription on front paste-down endpaper which also has a small amount of foxing, otherwise in very good condition.
Roland Clark (1874 - 1957) was an American artist who was best known for his painting and etchings of ducks. He was also an accomplished writer and combined these talents in sporting articles, short stories which were autobiographical in nature.
Health for Little Folks
New York: American Book Company, 1890. Hardcover, 5 x 7". 90 pp. Green cloth over boards with black lettering and illustration on cover, corner bumping and spine cloth fraying on edges and ends with some stains. Some ink stamps on front paste-down endpaper and previous owner markings (partially erased) on front free endpaper, several minor pencil marks and stains throughout. Good condition.
This is the Authorized Physiology Series, No. 1 from American Book Company which was intended for primary school years to teach" laws of practical hygiene" and physiology. Contents include: why we need to eat, kinds of foods, the body needs water, salt and lime, drinks that contain alchol, how food is changed into blood, the blood, how the blood is purified, the framework of the body, the muscles, brains and nerves, our five senses and the skin. Nicely illustrated throughout with small medical drawings.
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.
Hinky Haiku
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2016. Approximately 3 x 2", oblong. First edition, LIMITED EDITION of 20 copies, this being #4. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press, Gold and black checkerboard paper over boards, traditional stab binding, beautiful black and gold endpapers, Japanese mulberry paper, signed and numbered by the author on the colophon, fine condition.
Overwrought by grade-schoolers and wanna-be poets, the haiku has been abused unintentionally for far too long. First attempted to distract themselves during an excruciating flight, the authors acknowledge that the haiku in its purest expression is both lyrical and majestic. These are neither, but offer commentary on modern life.
Holy Bible. New Testament.
Tokyo: Japan Bible Society, 1982. Black leather cover with blind stamped title and decorations, 27 x 34 mm, 409 pp., printed by photo offset at Toppan Printing Co., miniature bookplate and bookstore labels present, Japanese text, slipped into in a gold metal case with with red and gold cross decoration and chain. All housed in a red velveteen box with magnifying glass and brochure. Limited to 1,000 copies. The complete package, including original manufacturer's packaing box, all beautifully executed and in fine condition.
The Toppan Printing Company in Japan has long been printers of the world's smallest books with many Guiness Book World Record holders.