Miniature Book Collector Finds Joy in Fine Print

April 2, 2006, interview by Sn Diego Union-Tribune staff writer John Wilkens.

Karen Nyman, who lives in Point Loma and owns a consignment furniture store, always thought collectors were nuts until she became one. Her specialty is miniature books.

I've always loved books. When I remodeled the house five years ago, I had bookcases built all around what used to be the dining room. There were two sections where, because of the way the room was constructed, the shelves were only 3 or 4 inches deep. So I started buying little books and I got very curious about them. I just thought they were amazing, the work that went into them. Some were made by hand, one at a time.

Strictly speaking, a miniature book is defined as being no bigger than 3 inches by 3 inches by 3 inches. In the old days, if you were a reader, you carried books like this with you. Abraham Lincoln often had one in his pocket. Napoleon traveled with his own little library. They are difficult to find. I call book dealers all over the country and I go on eBay. There was a famous collector in Connecticut who had 10,000 miniature books and he decided to sell some. I went to his home and bought several hundred. I've been collecting seriously for about a year now and I have close to 800 books. Some cost $10; the most expensive one was close to $800.

Everyone says I have to specialize because I'll go crazy but I can't seem to do it. I like Bibles and certain children's sets, but other than that I'm not particular. The oldest one I have is from 1780. I have locket books, picture books, a book of bedside stories that looks like a bed. I have a set of Shakespeare from the 1820s and a book of facts about Teddy Roosevelt. I have a book that's so tiny it comes with its own magnifying glass. I read them. I'll take two or three with me to bed at night. I like that you can read them quickly, that they're not something you're going to be working on for two or three weeks.

I belong to the Miniature Book Society. The president lives in Ramona. There are about 400 members worldwide. They're an interesting group. Some are wealthy. A lot are librarians. And some of them are involved because they are crafts people and they like to make the books. It's like an art form.