Beschreibung:

MINIATURE BOOKS - DAVID BRYCEA fine and extensive collection of miniature books, mostly published by David Bryce & Son of Glasgow, including: --[Qur'an] The 'Mite Koran', photolithographic reduction, printed in Arabic, with facsimile attestation at end, patterned endpapers, red morocco gilt, 27 x 19 mm. [Bondy p.111-2], [c.1900] --'Smallest English Classic in the World': Thomas Gray, An Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard, green roan, 17 x 13mm. [Bondy p.113-4], 1911 --The Smallest English Dictionary in the World, later purple goatskin with multiple gilt fleur-de-lys all over design, 29 x 23mm. [Bondy p.107, "this miracle of of miniature book production... easily readable"] --[Qur'an], facsimile of an illuminated manuscript, in Maghribi script, decorative gilt limp leather, 23 x 18mm., [Cairo, c.1930], the last 2 contained in a model wooden school desk --[Chained Bibles] 'Smallest Bible in the World', The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, 2 copies, illustrations, dark and light brown blind-stamped roan respectively, with magnifier in pocket inside front cover, 42 x 30mm., both chained to a model wooden lectern (the first with with printed label on lectern, tear to joint, the second with defective title-page, covers loose and lacking backstrip, chain detached from lectern), [Bondy p.109], [1911]; with another copy of the very small New Testament (see no. 10 below), chained to a small silver-plated model lectern --'The Smallest Bible in the World': The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, illustrations, red gilt-tooled roan, with magnifier in pocket at front (this cover detached), 42 x 30mm., 1896 --'Burns Family Bible': The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, illustrations, blind-stamped limp calf and original tartan-covered hinged wooden case, with printed label 'Smallest Bible in the World with Burns' Family Register in the Poet's Handwriting', 45 x 30mm. [Bondy p.110] --'Illustrated Miniature Bible': The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, illustrations, dark purple roan, elaborately gilt with title on front cover, preserved in original metal locket with gilt-lettered red roan front panel and inset magnifier (case worn), 43 x 30mm. --Robert Burns Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, reduced facsimile of the first edition, publisher's stiff printed wrappers, 29 x 20mm. [Bondy p.113], Kilmarnock, 1786 [but Glasgow, c.1900] --Golden Thoughts from Great Authors, 2 copies, dark red and dark blue limp calf, 29 x 20mm. [Bondy p.113] --[Midget Library], 12 vol. including The Smallest French and English Dictionary in the World by F.E.A. Gasc [cf. Bondy p.107]; Tiny Alphabet of Animals and Tiny Alphabet of Birds [cf. Bondy, p.72]; The New Testament [cf. Bondy p.111, "staggeringly small", 20 x 16m.], 1925; Old English, Scotch and Irish Songs with Music [Bondy, p.113] and a Koran, all in red roan gilt (the Koran elaborately so), all housed in original single wooden stand with hinged metal and glass front (metal worn) --Tennyson, [Works], 4 vol., limp green roan, spines darkened, preserved in single open case with embossed metal surround, each 52 x 35mm. --'Finger Post Series for the Pocket': Ambulance Hints; Daily Food for Daily Life, 2 vol., both with double-page title and text, uniform maroon and dark green roan respectively, upper cover with gilt illustration of a signpost and gate, 77 x 25mm. --'The Finger Prayer Book': The Book of Common Prayer, limp blue roan, blue silk endpapers, slightly soiled and worn at spine end, housed in open metalwork carrying case with chain, 90 x 30mm., Oxford University Press and Henry Frowde, [c.1900] --Charles Dickens [Christmas Books], 'Oxford India paper Edition', 5 vol. including a Christmas Carol, limp red roan gilt, spines darkened, preserved in single open case with embossed metal surround, each 52 x 35mm., Henry Frowde, 1904-1906; another set, 5 vol., dark red limp roan, spines faded and rubbed, 50 x 37mm., Henry Frowde, 1904 --