miniature book

Miniature book:past, present and

future

©Садчикова Анастасия Евгеньевна 2

Miniature book is…

…an edition, with maximum book size not more than 100

mm.


The miniature books appeared before our era and they were

noted for in the antique times in the form of rolls and cuneiform

clay tiles the size of 3x4, 4x4 sm.


Historians of miniature book keep on remembering of previous forms of its

existence – small clay planches made in Babylon more than 4000 years ago.


The most ancient from saved miniature dated publications is the paper scroll “Dharani” of

57 mm with Chinese pray on it dated 770 AC.


With the excavations in the environs of Novgorod the

scientists found the birch bark certificates of the XIIIth century,

among which there were miniature certificates with the

texts of prayers, including alphabet.


In the Middle Ages the most disseminated in Europe manuscript books were “the prayer-books”, “bibles”, etc.


By Johann Gutenberg setting type - mobile letter from the metal the

geography of printing and propagation of the books, including of miniature, was sharply enlarged

after invention in Europe in the middle of XV century


The first printed miniature book in

Russia – “Menology” (1639 year).


Only in 1690 in America, in Boston appeared the first

miniature book.


In XVII-XVIII centuries the miniature books became very popular in England and France, where together with the prayer-books and

bibles they began to print poetry, and also historical works.


At the beginning of the 20th century

with large-quantity printings the

miniature books began to leave.


In the 21st Century the relation to the skill and the book production changed to the best side, and the miniature book entered into the new century as the work of press

and the increasing poligraphic possibilities.


At present it is known several publishing houses, which publish the miniature books. Among them - “Levsha” in

Omsk, “[Kleo]” (Saint Petersburg), “Phoenix” (Dubna).


The creation of the miniature books requires the high level of craftsmanship, which borders on the present skill, which is especially valued by the collectors of these publications and by bibliophiles.


If in the initial stage the minimal sizes of the books were determined

by the abilities of masters, then later - by technical achievements in

optics.


But miniature books - these are not only

printed, but also artistic formulation. The majority of the

books is richly illustrated.


• Each miniature book is unique - both on the form and in the content; therefore entire libraries now and then are collected of them. More often take into the hands miniature publications, you give to your their friends and close ones, and if not today, then you will agree after a certain time that this small miracle first of all - the book from the capital letter!


Thanks for your attention!

miniature book

Education