Evening star., 1932-04-03
Miniature Book Collection

about Theodore Roosevelt 1t measures only 2A
by IA inches and is the direct antithesis of
Gen Pierce's little volume as it Stanchly sup
ports it's subject from title page to appendix.
From Barcelona comes Spanish translation
of President wilson's message to Congress on
January 8, 1918. Attractively bound in gray
buckram, this little tome of 101 pages meas
ures Ia by 1% inches The final number of
this group is volume of the Thistle Library
George Washington, First President Of the
United States of America" which attains the
rather large size of 3A by 212 inches.
IN going over the rest of the collection for items
of particular interest the impulse is to set
down each and every one of them with word
or two of comment. In the final analysis they
are all interesting. Anything requiring the pa
tience, the artistic ability and skill that the
meanest of the Titles required in composition,
cannot help striking responsive chord In
nearly all of us. Any account of the Library
of Congress collection, no matter how super
fetal, would not be complete without listing a
dozen or so more of the "littles" that any
"microphile' might well be proud to number
among his treasures
copy Of La Diuina Comedia di Dante"
Venetia N. Missarini 1929, measuring 3% by
Ia inches with 534 pages and apparently in
its original velum binding, can scarcely be
passed over THE New Testament in Short
hand twentieth impression, London, w. Mar
shall and j. Marshall, 1700, measuring 2% by
S inches, is too fair prize to be entirely
diSregarded.
jeremiah Rich, the painstaking author, rave
as his reason for the transcription into short
hand that he would not himself be idle, and
his reason for printing them, that he would
have others well employed. Can two more
creditable reasons for the production of any
work, large or small, be readily found? Tbs
smallest New Testament, "The New Testament
Of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" London,
1895, measures only V of an inch square an<
from the same tray comes a translation inhe
Japanese Of the Gospel of st. Luke" publs2e=
ed by the American Bible Society and measuEs
ing only 2a4 by 134 inches.
Although the Library of Congress collection
cannot begin to do justice to the Dutch crafts
men, two little works of superior quality carry
the banner of their native Holland into the
very front ranks Of the notables. Kern deg
Kerkelyke Historic" A. Blusse Derdregt, LISA
and Kern de Nederlandsche Historic" AM
steldam F. Crajenschot 1853, would warm any
true collectors heart. The first measuring 1A
by IA inches, IS plainly bound in two volumes
and is adorned with numerous woodcuts The
second, 17s by 1A inches over all, is hand
somely bound In beautifully gold fooled red
morocco leather and fastened with a silver
clasp.
Two of the best examples Of German minia-
lures come to us from the early part of the
eighteenth century. A really microscopic
"Doctrinal and Prayer Book" published by j.
s. Kohles In Altorf in ITO, measures only
7xB of an inch. Illustrated by several tiny
woodcuts and still In its original red velvet
binding, this little work, obviously, was not
printed as curiosity or as an expression Of
the craftsmans Skill but was fully intended
as handy little spiritual guide that could be
carried and consulted with the greatest of
ease The other item, another prayer book,
Elm Schones Gebet-buchlein," Breslau 1925.
measures 1%x1 inch.
prize little things nor think it i'll
That men small things preserpe."