5j William Shakespeare. New York: Knickerbocker Leather & Novelty Co., 1910s. 

Notes

Miniature editions of Shakespeare’s works became a notable publishing trend in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as advances in printing and typesetting made it possible to set extremely small type and produce pocket-sized books. Shakespeare was among the most popular authors chosen for these tiny formats because his complete works were widely read, studied, and prized as literary treasures. Collectors and general readers alike enjoyed the novelty and craftsmanship of these diminutive books—they were portable, decorative, and often beautifully bound in leather, making them attractive gifts or collector’s items. The miniature Shakespeare editions also reflect broader cultural enthusiasm for making classic literature physically accessible and appealing in new formats, at a time when book collecting and literary souvenirs were fashionable.

Description 

Miniature. Soft brown leather binding. Red edges. Gilt lettering on upper cover and spine. Shakespeare portrait frontispiece. Some fading to leather binding around edges and at head and foot of spine. Fine condition.