Today is the last day when a treasure trove of antique miniature books from a family collection will be auctioned by Bamfords Auctioneers of Derbyshire, UK. The 16 beautiful little books are expected to bring in over £2,000.
The smallest of the books is also the oldest: Bijou Picture of London, measuring just 1-1/8” tall (30 mm), was published in 1810 and features 31 engravings of London landmarks. It is valued at £150-200, as is the similarly-sized Bijou Picture of Paris published in 1812.
The Holy Bible pictured at left, published in Glasgow in 1896, is a mere 1.5” tall (40 mm). It has 376 pages and features engraved plates, gilt-stamped morocco leather binding and a magnifying glass in a rear pocket. It is expected to bring £200-300.