Miniature Book Collection - Includes The Following Volumes:
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Moments With Shelley - Published by Henry Frowde: London
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Poems by Matthew Arnold - Published by Siegle, Hill & Co: London
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Poems Of Christina Rossetti - Published by Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell: London
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Miniature Dictionary Of English & French Languages - Published by George Routledge & Sons Ltd: London
Largest book (Shelley) measures 10cm x 7cm. Dictionary is 9cm x 6cm.
"A charming and thoughtfully assembled miniature book collection, bringing together four classic volumes of poetry and reference in delightfully compact form. Representing late Victorian to early 20th-century publishing, the set includes Moments With Shelley (Henry Frowde), Poems by Matthew Arnold (Siegle, Hill & Co.), Poems of Christina Rossetti (Nimmo, Hay & Mitchell), and a Miniature Dictionary of the English & French Languages (George Routledge & Sons). Each volume reflects the era's fondness for finely produced pocket editions, designed for portability while retaining literary substance.
The poetic selections present three major figures of 19th-century English literature—Shelley, Arnold, and Rossetti—each captured in attractively bound miniature formats, with decorative title pages and, in the case of Shelley, a delicate portrait frontispiece. These editions were often produced as gift books or personal companions, and their scale enhances their appeal, offering an intimate reading experience. The inclusion of the English-French dictionary adds a practical dimension, typical of the period's interest in education and refinement, particularly among travellers and students.
Together, the collection embodies both aesthetic charm and historical interest, with varied bindings including decorative cloth and leather, showing honest age and handling consistent with their use as portable volumes. Their small size—ranging from approximately 10cm to 6cm—only heightens their collectability, making them an appealing group for collectors of miniature books, Victorian and Edwardian literature, and finely produced pocket editions, as well as admirers of classic English poetry in unique formats."
General wear and fading to covers and spine. No inscriptions. Pages clean and well presented. A nice collection of miniature books in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.