Featured is a Rare micro miniature  copy of Schloss's English Bijou Almanac for 1843, published by Albert Schloss, Fancy Stationer to Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Kent.  Made extra rare by having been bound in Publisher's contemporary limp Robin's Egg Blue wraps with Gilt stamped covers and spine, gilt edges, and pink endpapers.  Again, a super rare decorative presentation.  'Poetically illustrated"  by the Author/Poet/Song-writer "Hon Mrs" Caroline Sheridan Norton, with engraved plates of the celebrities being featured in the current year's almanac.  Engravings of both portraits and script were done by Benjamin Rees Davies. 

(I have not opened the book to display engravings or the birthdays and dates of other important happenings relative to royal institutions so as not to risk harming the integrity of the tight binding ... I did do it once in the 30 years I have owned the book.)  The book is more specifically known as belonging to the collecting category of Microbibliography, a category which I both professionally sold and collected.

The original book was sold in a slipcase that mimicked the book's decoration ... sometimes even in a velvet case that contained a micro magnifying glass that enabled the reading of the Almanac's tiny print by the recipient.  Schloss's Almanac proved quite an industry of itself.

The "Bijou" Almanac (so named for two reasons ... because each issue was a tiny jewel unto itself and it featured human "jewels" of the Kingdom.  Albert Schloss published the engraved almanacs between 1836 and 1843.  The tiny books were indeed gems when it came to  "engraving, illustration, binding and presentation." ... this according to Bondy on Miniature Books.  Further, they were considered "A miracle of fine and delicate engraving, done consistently and beautifully to an almost unbelievably tiny scale." (Percy E. Spielmann).  The subject listing was the last published by Schloss and is rare.  Printing of "The Bijou Almanac" was resumed in 1845 by publisher T. Goode, yet another publisher with close ties to the Royal Family.

In "Inches" lingo, the micro book measures 5/8" x 6/8" x 2/8".    

This has been in my personal collection for approximately 30 years.  I have neither seen nor sold a finer copy ... or at least a copy that appealed as much as did this copy with its unusual color combinations of Robin's Egg Blue w/ Pink!

Domestic Shipping for this item by USPS Priority Mail - small flat rate box so as not to get harmed or lost in shuffle - to include tracking and insurance.  We are happy to combine shipping where able.  Be sure to check out our other offerings.

Selling on eBay as early as 1997.  "The Mermaid" is also still a bonded auctioneer and real estate broker who spent the past "many" decades' specializing in books, ephemera, estates, and real estate.  Just shy of two million books sold to date.  Books and paper aside, if it is "Stuff", she has sold it!  She has now returned to eBay.  Health issues have brought us back.  We are even selling our own collections!  And ... we are picky.  If we wouldn't add it to our own collections, we won't sell it.  Hope you find something that you want, need, and, most important of all, will enjoy!  We look forward to transacting with you and making new eBay friends and customers.  Thanking you for your patronage in advance ... ! 

 

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**Unfortunately, there are a few destinations to which we cannot and will not ship.  That circumstance involves a fluid dynamic the specifics of which may not be clear until point of sale.  If such is the case, we will allow the transaction to be cancelled at our discretion and without any negative reporting made to eBay.  

 

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