[We Like It Rare] Tiny Treasures: Exploring Miniature Books
What lies in the Rare Materials Collections of the National Library, Singapore? In this series, we explore the gems of this treasure trove to uncover their fascinating stories.
Miniature books, though diminutive, make big impressions. Join librarian Gracie Lee as she highlights some of the smallest items in the Rare Materials Collection at the National Library.
As a librarian working with rare materials, one of the more common questions that I receive concerns the interesting or unusual items in the National Library’s Rare Materials Collections. In my mind, miniature books fit this category perfectly.
Cradling a miniature book in one’s palm is like being magically transported to the land of Lilliput. Like Gulliver, I feel very much like a giant as I squint to make out texts and images that have been condensed into pages no larger than 3 to 4 inches (~ 7.6 cm–10.1 cm). Despite their small size, miniature books are not poorer cousins of full-sized books. The creativity and craftsmanship that goes into producing these tiny works are a delight to many, making miniatures a much sought-after collectors’ item.
What are Miniature Books?
The definition of a miniature book varies but is generally accepted to be books measuring under 3 or 4 inches (~ 7.6 cm –10.1 cm). Miniature forms of the written word have existed for a long time, dating back to the cuneiform stone tablets of ancient Mesopotamia in 2000 B.C.E. During the Middle Ages, miniaturised versions of religious texts (such as scriptures, prayers or devotionals) were popular among the nobles and clergy in Europe for their portability, and they were typically worn chained to the belt or girdle.
With the introduction of the printing press in the 15th century, the variety of miniature books have expanded in form and subject matter. These include almanacs, calendars, travel books, classic literature, histories, dictionaries, children’s books, dollhouse pieces, music books, books containing risqué content (for easy concealment), propaganda, works of art and many more.¹
Tiny Treasures in the National Library of Singapore
While we do not set out intentionally to collect miniature books here at the National Library, a modest number of such works have made their way into the Rare Materials Collection as part of our regular acquisition of materials on Singapore and Malaya.
One such highlight are two walnut shells, titled Singapore in a Nutshell and Malaya in a Nutshell, each measuring less than 4 cm. They house paper accordions with panoramas of Singapore and Malaya printed on one side, and captions on the reverse. In Singapore in a Nutshell, the photographic strip contains 29 views of Singapore, featuring places of interest such as Raffles Place, Boat Quay, St Andrew’s Cathedral and Katong. In Malaya in a Nutshell, 25 views of Malaya are presented, covering landmarks such as Station Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the Johore Causeway, and the Ayer Itam Temple in Penang.
During the early 20th century, walnut shells were popular novelty items that were produced as tourist souvenirs or mementos to celebrate key events. Examples from collections around the world include St. Louis Exposition in a Nutshell (1904), London in a Nutshell (1908), Dublin in a Nutshell (1918), 1933 World’s Fair in a Nutshell, and Coronation Souvenir 16 Photographs of the Royal Family in a Nutshell (1937). These were manufactured by the Nutshell Novelty Company of Chicago and the Nutshell View Co. in Britain, among others.
According to this news report, a version of “Singapore in a Nutshell” with 40 views could be purchased from major bookstores in Singapore.² The two walnut shells shown here were published by Julius S. Fisher, a pioneer in the Singapore entertainment scene. He and his brother Joe arrived in Singapore in 1918 as managers of Middle East Films Ltd. They became well-known for running Capitol Theatre, one of the leading cinemas in pre-war Singapore.³ Julius Fisher was also an amateur cameraman of still and moving images.⁴ His interest in film and photography was likely developed during his youth in South Africa, where his family operated a cinema chain called Fisher’s Bioscopes and Films.⁵ Some of his photographic works can be found in the Malaya Tribune newspaper.
Fisher was also the editor and publisher of the Who’s Who in Malaya 1925 and 1939, and the British Malayan Annual 1929. These illustrated publications contained many images of Malayan personalities and landscapes that were supplied by local Japanese photographic studios. They include Light Studio (Singapore), Nakajima Studio (Singapore), Miyasaki Bros. (Kuala Lumpur), Nikko Studio (Penang), Tokisatsu Studio (Penang), Murai Studio (Seramban) and Ishii Studio (Malacca). This is perhaps unsurprisingly for by the early 20th century, Chinese and Japanese-owned photo studios had supplanted European studios who were early movers in the field of commercial photography in Singapore during the 19th century.
The photographer credited for the images in Malaya in a Nutshell was Light Studio, a Japanese photo studio located at 24 Orchard Road (present day Dhoby Ghaut). Its proprietor Tasaka Kumaji (田阪熊次) arrived in Singapore in 1917 and began the business in 1919.⁶ The studio promoted itself as “Modern Art Photographers” which specialised in enlargements as well as coloured photography or hand-coloured photos,⁷ a technique Japanese photographers were renowned for internationally.⁸
Though small, these two walnuts shells offer us a fascinating slice of history on tourism, souvenir gifting and photography in Singapore.
Besides the featured walnut shells, below are other miniature books held in the library’s rare and closed access collections:
Title: シンガポール・カンラク (Shingapōru kanraku)
Authors: 大政翼賛會 (Taisei Yokusankai); 宣傳部 (Sendenbu, editor)
Publisher: [東京] : 日本写真工芸社, [1942] ([Tokyo]:Nihon Shashin Kōgeisha. , [1942] )
Series title: ヨクサンマメグラフ ; 1 (Yokusan mame gurafu ; 1)
Size: 5 cm x 3.5 cm
This miniature pictorial book, measuring just 5 cm by 3.5 cm, was published in Japan to commemorate the fall of Singapore on 15 February 1942. The cover features Tojo Hideki, the Prime Minister of Japan from 1941 to 1944 with the title “The Fall of Singapore” printed on the top. The book contains 26 photographic images illustrating Japan’s war in Southeast Asia, such as the sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse off the coast of Malaya and Japanese soldiers celebrating their victory after the fall of Singapore. The book, written in simple katakana script, was likely intended to be a war propaganda piece aimed at Japanese children.
Title: Chiu Yih’s Gem: New Concise English-Chinese Dictionary = 最新简明求益英汉小字典
Compiler: Hung, Ming-Han = 洪明汉
Publisher: [Hong Kong]: Chiu Yih Book, 1956.
Size: 4.4 cm x 6 cm x 4 cm
This pocket-size English-Chinese dictionary contains over 1,000 pages and 35,000 entries. It was first printed in Shanghai in 1948. The English terms are listed alphabetically with information on its pronunciation, grammatical use and definition in Chinese.
Title: Otogi-banashi: A Miniature Toy-book from Japan
Authors: Ann Herring (English text) and Hirose Tatsugorō (Introduction and Japanese text)
Publisher: Tokyo: Ise-Tatsu, 1969
Size of miniature books: 3 cm in height
Donated by: Mrs Hedwig Anuar
This toy book utilises the concept of learning through play, and contains three miniaturised versions of classic Japanese folktales — “The Old Man Who Makes The Flowers Bloom”, “Momotaro” and “Kachi-Kachi Mountain”. These miniatures are embedded within a regular size book. The book also contains an illustrated sheet titled “Fairy tale pictures for a toy book” with brief instructions printed on the left margin on how to turn the pictures into miniature books.⁹
Miniature books have been delighting readers for generations. Despite their small size, their novelty factor, aesthetic appeal, and functional value continue to make them a big hit with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Gracie Lee is a Senior Librarian with the National Library, Singapore. She enjoys uncovering and sharing the stories behind Singapore’s printed heritage.
[1] Anne Bromer and Julian I. Edison, Miniature Books: 4000 Years of Tiny Treasures (New York: Abrams in conjunction with Grolier Club, 2007), 11–12; Beatriz Haspo, “A Special Treat for the Season: The Miniature Collection at the Library of Congress,” Library of Congress Blogs website, posted on 23 December 2021; Michael Peck, “A Brief History of Miniature Books,” Biblio, accessed 12 May 2023.
[2] Untitled, Straits Times, 12 June 1920, 8. (From NewspaperSG)
[3] “Joe & Julius Fisher — Pioneers of Singapore entertainment,” Straits Times, 31 January 1940, 15. (From NewspaperSG)
[4] “Local colour films,” Morning Tribune, 11 November 1941, 4. (From NewspaperSG)
[5] Who’s Who in Malaya 1939, (Singapore: Fishers Limited in conjunction with Messrs Printers Ltd., 1939), 59.
[6] 『南洋及日本人社』 Nan’yō oyobi Nihonjin sha. ([2000]); Originally published 1937). 『南洋の五十年 : シンガポ一ルを中心に同胞活跃』Nan’yō no gojūnen: Shingapōru o chūshin ni dōhō katsuyaku, 683.
[7] Iwao Hino and S. Durai Raja Singam, Stray Notes: On Nippon-Malaisian Historical Connections (Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur Museum, 1944), 111.
[8] Vox, “How colorized photos helped introduce Japan to the world,” Youtube, posted on 5 October 2020.
[9] Lynn Chua, “Folk tales from Asia,” BiblioAsia 10, no. 1 (2014). Retrieved 12 May 2023.
