Miniature Books

Although the current definition of a miniature book is anything measuring less than three inches in width or length, their history is anything but small. Sumerian Clay tablets with cuneiform writing are said to be the first miniature books. They were written as early as 2500 BCE. Miniature books also appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages. These were frequently prayer books. They were small in order to be easily carried and so they could be concealed when the reader was mingling with a mixed crowd. With the advent of Gutenberg’s printing press, these small printed prayer books were fairly widespread.