These extraordinary miniature books include treasures from the collection of Queen Mary, consort to George V, who famously adored tiny objects and commissioned authors to create miniature books for her dolls’ house.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, publishers competed to demonstrate their craftsmanship by producing ever smaller and more intricate books. Some of these volumes are so small they feel like they belong in a fairy tale — yet each one is beautifully made and readable (with the help of a magnifying glass!).
From religious devotion to novelty souvenirs of the Great Exhibition, these tiny books reveal big stories about art, design, faith, publishing innovation, and the enduring question:
What is a book?
Watch if you love rare books, book history, miniature objects, dolls’ houses, fine binding, unusual museum collections, or extremely miniature bookmaking.
Chapters:
- 00:00 Intro
- 00:20 Queen Mary’s miniature library
- 00:51 The Holy Bible printed on the thinnest paper in existence
- 02:04 Robert Burns poems bound in red leather
- 02:56 Smallest Dictionary in metal case with magnifying glass
- 03:51 Silver-bound lapis lazuli handwritten prayer book (manuscript)
- 05:37 Precious miniature Qur’an in a locket
- 07:21 Embossed gilt almanacs (& one with a pocket!)
- 10:35 Souvenir from The Great Exhibition
- 11:28 Miniature children’s books
- 13:01 Paper peep shows/tunnel books inspired by Alice in Wonderland
- 18:07 The smallest book in the world: a macro-miniature
- 19:50 What IS a book?
