Knoxville’s Largest Little Library
Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives is pleased to bring you a little exhibit on miniature books. This exhibit features almost 30 books ranging from a mere 0.875 inch high by not quite 0.625, to nearly 4 inches in height. These miniature books can be seen in the Special Collections Classroom on the first floor of Hodges Library, anytime during opening hours through the Spring semester.
The origin of the miniature book is a highly debated topic amongst historians, archivists, and collectors. Some argue that the first iterations were miniature Sumerian clay tablets with cuneiform writing that date back to 2500 BC. Others say that the miniature book originated in the early Middle Ages.
However, both sides agree that early miniature books served both functional and aesthetic purposes. They could be easily transported and stored, so they appealed to those looking to keep information on their person for quick retrieval. The craftsmanship of miniature books intrigued patrons, as bookmakers had to transcribe large publications by hand into small text and delicately bind the pages together.
With the invention of the printing press in the 15th century, miniature books became more accessible. The most popular miniatures were copies of religious texts, specifically the Bible. Over the centuries, miniature books evolved to include Greek and Latin classics, children’s stories, novelty books, political propaganda, and more.
Today, miniature books are still published by private presses and are highly sought-after collectors’ items.
The Miniature Book Society considers books to be miniature when they do not exceed three inches in height, width, or thickness. Some books in our collection are much smaller than this size, while others are slightly larger. We include a variety of sizes in this exhibit to demonstrate the skill and creativity of miniature bookmakers from diverse backgrounds.
UT Libraries’ miniature book exhibit was curated by Britany Green and Emily Homolka.