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The Charlotte M. Smith Collection of Miniature Books

Return to: 20th Century U. S. Imprints in the Smith Collection

The portion of this website in front of you brings together in preliminary fashion a variety of lists and descriptions for United States Miniature Books published during the Twentieth Century. The books have then been organized by press or publisher as described in Robert C. Bradbury's Twentieth Century United States Miniature Books (No. Clarendon, Vermont: The Microbibliophile, 2000). This page describes titles held by the University of Iowa Libraries for the press or publisher described below. The descriptions generally follow Bradbury's format: Author. Title. Imprint (if it varies from the heading), date. Size in inches. Number of pages. Brief physical description. Illustrations note. Copy # of [##] copies.

Cunningham, Carol. The Frog Prince: A Magical Tale. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1974. 30 pp. 1 1/8" x 1 1/2".
Colophon: This magical fairy tale was written, printed and bound by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press, in 6 point Deepdene. October 1974. Copy #72 of 100 initialed by C.S.C.
Bound in green fuzzy paper covered boards with title label pasted to the spine and a picture of a frog pasted on the front cover. Marbled endpapers. B20th 6/802.

Cunningham, Carol. Gutenberg. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1977. 20 pp. 2 3/4" x 3 3/8".
Designed and printed by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. #24 of 180 copies. Signed by Cunningham. B20th 9/803.

Coolin, Marcie. (translator). Le Chien Guingan et le Chat Calicot. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1977. 32 pp. 2 1/8" x 2 1/4".
Colophon: "The Duel" is one of the most popular of poems for children by Eugene Field. Marcie Collin translated it into a marvelous French verse and drew all the illustrations (except the sun & moon). I take all responsiblility for any arrors; there were none in Marcie's flowing French. Copy #58 of 250. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Hand -colored illustrations. Bound in red, white, blue, and green floral cloth. Blue paper title labels pasted on the spine and front cover. Blue endpapers. B20th 10/728.

Cunningham, Carol. About Sunflowers. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1978. 26 pp. 1 7/8" x 1 5/8".
Colophon: Designed and printed by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press 64 Castle Rock Drive, Mill Valley, California 94941. Of 125 printed, this is copy #51. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Illustrations printed in orange. Bound in yellow cloth boards with a design of a sunflower printed in orange on the front cover and title on spine. B20th 11/793.

Cunningham, Carol. Apricot Moon. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1979. 30pp. 1 1/4" x 1 7/8".
#21 of 125 copies signed by author, printer, binder, Carol Cunningam. B20th 12/795.

Cunningham, Carol. Kachinas. Mill Vally, CA: Sunflower Press, 1980. 28 pp. 2 1/3" x 2 7/8".
Colophon: Carol Cunningham designed and printed this little volume at Sunflower Press. Printed on Curtis Rag paper using handset Optima type. From an edition of 125, this is copy 47. Signed by Cunningham. B20th 13/807.

Cunningam, Carol. Marco Polo. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1980. 28 pp. 2 1/2" x 2 7/8".
Designed, written and printed by Carol Cunningham, on French Arches paper from hand-set Optima type. Signed by Cunningham. #32 of 125 copies; one of the 30 copies bound in an antique brocade fabric portraying the five clawed imperial dragon. B20th 14/812.

Cunningham, Carol. The Sun: Full Circle, West. (one of four volumes in set issued by Splendid Press). Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1981. 8 pp. 2" x 2".
Colophon: This book was produced entirely by hand by Carol Cunningham, at Sunflower Press, in collaboration with Figment, Poole and Feathered Serpent presses, under the imprint Splendid Press & Paper Works, Ltd. This type is handset Deepdene, printed on English mould-made paper from T.H. Saunders, and each book is bound by hand. Of 120 copies, this is copy 7.
Each has "This volume is one of four, each exploring, in one global direction, the magic powers of ancient suns, to fire the imaginations of the lost cultures that worshipped them." Their stories are told with folktales and art from the Far East, sunny Equator, American West, and icy North. Bound in colorfully decorated paper over boards, and arranged in a special slipcase. Each book has fourteen printed pages rich in illustration, and hand-colored. B20th 15/825.

Cunningham, Carol. Lotus-Blossom and Moon-Flower, a Chinese Folk Tale. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1981. 22 pp. 2" x 2 3/4".
Colophon: This adaptation of Chinese folk tale was written, designed & printed at Sunflower Press by Carol Cunningham. This edition of 100 copies has been printed on handmade Japanese paper from hand-set types. This is copy #44. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Decorations on twelve pages. Bound in red paper with gold design stamped on the front. Side-sewn with gold cords in Oriental fashion. B20th 16/810.

Cunningham, Carol. A Commonplace Book. (Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1981). 36 pp. 1 3/4" x 2 1/4".
Colophon: Type for this book handset at Sunflower Press by Carol Cunningham, who also did all printing and binding. Paper is imported Ingres. From an edition of one hundred, this is copy number 20. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
A collection of uncommon phrases and comments, many spoken by people of note listed in the back of the book. Bound in colorful striped velveteen over boards. B20th 17/796.

Marvell, Andrew. The Garden. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1981. 26 pp. 2 3/4" x 2 7/8".
The illustrations for this book were printed directly from actual plants, and their fragility limited this edition to only fifty-five copies. This is copy 11. Signed by Cunningham. B20th 18/1951.

Watts, Issac. Cradle Song. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1982. 26 pp. 2 7/16" x 2 5/16".
Colophon: Cradle Song was designed, printed from handset Freehand type and bound at Sunflower Press by Carol Cunningham, 1982. There are 50 numbered copies in this edition, printed on Ingres paper, and 10 artist's proofs on Curtis Rag. This is copy #7. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Bound in printed Christmas cloth over boards. Red title label pasted on the spine.B20th 19/3067.

Cunningham, Carol. Masks. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1983. 48 pp. 2 3/8" x 1 3/4". #33 of 115 copies. Signed by Carol Cunningham. B20th 20/813.

Cunningham, Carol. Toad. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1983. 28 pp. 2 1/2" x 2 3/4".
Colophon: Written, illustrated, printed and bound by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. From an edition of 80, this is copy 32. Inscribed to Charlotte by Carol Cunningham.
Text printed in yellow green. Colorful illustrations and bound in light yellow green corduroy cloth over boards. Paper title label pasted on the spine and a picture of a green toad pasted on the front cover. B20th 21/827.

Cunningham, Carol. (compiler). Lullabies. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1984. 28 pp. 2 3/4" x 2 5/8".
Colophon: Designed and printed letterpress by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. This is copy #9 out of 100. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Eight lullabies with decorations of stars and angels printed in gold. Text printed in blue. Bound in blue paper with gold stars and title in gold on a blue paper label pasted on the front cover. B20th 22/811.

Cunningham, Carol. First Emperor of China. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1984. 35pp. 2 7/8" x 2 1/2".
Colophon: This book was designed by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press and printed by letterpress on Arches paper. From an edition of 125, this is #9. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
A miniature biography of Qin Shihuangti, the First Emperor of unified China, describing the discovery of his tomb in 1974, with its thousands of life-sized terra cotta warriors. Decorating the title page and text are five Chinese postage stamps which celebrate the discovery with scenes of the tomb interior, its huge army of warriors and horses, and one decorative stamp of the Qin memorial. Special Chinese endpapers are colorful views of the clay army. An inset illustration of the Great Wall of China adorns the cover of the regular edition of 100 copies bound in Dupioni silk. 25 deluxe copies are hand bound in antiqued glazed leather, boxed. On both covers are Chinese characters embossed by hand. The modern character symbolizing Qin on the front and the ancient character on the back. This is one of the regular edition bound in Dupioni silk with title on the spine and a paper circle with an illustration pasted on the front cover. B20th 23/801.

Cunningham, Carol. Land of the Inca. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1985. 44 pp. 2 1/2" x 2 7/8".
Eighty-five copies of this book have been printed letterpress by Carol Cunningham at Sunflwer Press, Mill Valley, California. Printed on Shadowmould paper from type set by Mackenzie-Harris. Printing comleted July, 1985. Copy 1 signed by Carol Cunningham. B20th 24/808.

Cunningham, Carol. Alphabet Alfresco. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1985. (60) pp. 1 5/8" x 2".
Colophon: This book was printed on handmade paper from Barcham Green in handset Studio type. Hand-colored, printed and bound by Carol Cunningham. Copy #11 of 85. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Bound in decorative orange cloth with a pattern of hearts and geese on it. Title label pasted on the spine. B20th 25/794.

Twain, Mark. Mark Twain's Raft Passage. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1986. 27 pp. 2 7/8" x 2 5/8".
Colophon: This book was designed, printed and bound by Carol Cunningham at the Sunflower Press, Mill Valley, California. A portion of the original story has been deleted. From an edition of 75 copies, this is Copy #16. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Illustrated by Maryline Poole Adams. Contains a Mark Twain 10 cent stamp and a Louisiana 10 cent stamp. Bound in black leather with an illustration of Twain and title on front cover stamped in gold. B20th 26/2967.

Cunningham, Carol. Silverpearl Plums. Mill Valley, Sunflower Press, 1986. (30) pp. 2 1/4" x 1 7/8".
Colophon: This little volume was written, printed and bound by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press, and completed in July of 1986. Of 85 copies, this is #5. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Contains many Haiku poems. Bound in plum colored leather with silver stamping of plums on the front cover. Illustrations in text printed in plum. B20th 27/820.

Cunningham, Carol. Never Cry Wolf. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, (1987). (28) pp. 2 1/16" x 2".
Colophon: Written, illustrated and printed by Carol Cunningham. Copy 10 of 50. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Hand-colored illustrations. Bound in grey paper on which leaping sheep are printed in green and title in black on front cover and spine. B20th 28/816.

Cunningham, Carol. Woven Wind, History of Silk. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1987. (38) pp. 2 7/8" x 2 5/8".
Colophon: This book was written, designed and bound by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press, Mill Vallley, California. From an edition of 40 copies, this is copy #2. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Contains many hand colored illustrations. Comes with a separate packet of seven silk samples enclosed in a purple paper portfolio with a ribbon on the outside. Book bound in striped silk of many different colors with title label pasted on the spine. Both kept together inside a clear acryllic case with ingenious lid and fastening. B20th 29/828.

Cunningham, Carol. Mr. Finney and the Turnip. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1988. (28) pp. 2 1/2" x 2 1/8".
Colophon: Illustrated and printed letterpress on Rives paper by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. Copy #5 of 50. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Contains several colorful illustrations. Bound in purple paper over boards with turnip printed on front cover. Title label pasted on the spine. B20th 30/814.

Cunningham, Carol. Haniwa. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1988. 36 pp. 2 7/8" x 3".
Colophon: Written, illustrated, and printed from handset Optima type by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. Inspiration for this book came from a handsome volume by Fumio Miki. From an edition of 55 copies, this is copy #12 signed by Carol Cunningham.
Bound in soft brown paper cover and side-sewn together in Japanese style. Kept inside a black three piece black slipcover folded together and held by a pottery fish. Contains 11 linocut illustrations. This is a deluxe edition. B20th 31/804.

Cunningham, Carol. Spring, Sweet Spring. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1989. (42) pp. 1 1/2" x 2 3/8".
Colophon: Designed and printed on Rives paper by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. From an edition of 40 copies, this is copy #9. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Bound in white floral cloth with paper title label pasted on the front cover. B20th 32/822.

Puss in Boots, a Folk Tale. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1989. (36) pp. 2 7/8" x 3".
Colophon: This book is my first (possibly my last?) attempt to design and print a book on the computer. I bought a Macintosh and a Laserwriter in March, and have been struggling for three months to get the type set into columns and printed. It would have been easier by hand. However, the title page and illustrations are letterpress printed. The paper is lovely old Curtis Rag. Copy Number 11 of only 30. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Text printed in Optima type. Each of nine illustrations printed letterpress and hand-colored. Bound in gray paper over boards with a black leather spine wrap. Title stamped in gold on spine. Illustration of a black cat printed on the front cover. Bright orange endpapers. B20th 33/2453.

Cunningham, Carol. Dance Circle. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1990. (32) pp. 2 3/4" x 2 3/8". Edition of 50 copies. #13 of 15 deluxe box-cover. B20th 34/797.

Cunningham, Carol. Elephant. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1991. 50 pp. 2 3/4" x 2 7/8".
Colophon: Printed letterpress from handset type on paper handmade of Cogon grass in the Phillipines. This edition numbers only 45 copies. This is copy 14. Signed by Carol Cunningham.
Handset in Italian Oldstyle. Bound in a cloth patterned with elephants walking along beneath flowers. Title label pasted on the spine. Kept inside a clear plastic bag sealed with an elephant sticker. B20th 35/800.

Cunningham, Carol. A Desert Tale. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1993. (36) pp. 2 3/4" x 2 7/8".
Colophon: 'Illustrations for this story were by my talented friend, Marcie Collin, who once lived in the Middle East. Printed letterpress from handset type. Fifty-five copies printed, numbered 1-50; the five further copies marked A-E, are for Marcie. This is copy 16. Boxed. Signed by Carol Cunningham. B20th 36/799.

Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. Kubla Khuan. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1995. 36 pp. 2 3/4" x 2 7/8".
Colophon: 'During the dismal rains of winter, I decided the time was right to print a poem I've always loved and wanted to print. Abstract landscapes in watercolor seemed to fit the wildly imaginative word pictures painted by Coleridge' (Cunninham). The edition is limited to 15 copies printed letterpress on Rives paper. This is copy 7. Signed by Cunningham.
In cloth-covered case. B20th 37/37.

Cunningham, Carol. One Million Pagodas, STory of Earliest Japanese Printing. Sunflower Press, 1995. (20) pp. 2 7/8" x 2 6/8".
Colophon: Written, designed and printed by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. This edition is limited to twelve copies printed letterpress on handmade Japanese paper. This is copy 7. Signed by author.
Japanese binding with red suede covers and an applied pagoda decoration, in a protective box designed as a kimono. B20th 38/819.

Cunningham, Carol. Daring Voyages, Early Seafarers. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1995. 44 pp. 2 ½" x 2 ½".
Colophon: I was inspired by finding a box with a compass inside the cover and looked for some information about early sea explorers. I limited my search to European seaman and did not include the Polynesians, who certainly traveled over long distances. The book was printed letterpress on Rives paper at Sunflower Press. This is copy 24 of 30. Signed by the author. B20th 39/798.

Cunningham, Carol. Time Machines. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1996. 38 pp. 2 7/8" x 2 ½".
Colophon: Written, designed and printed letterpress on Shadowmould paper at Sunflower Press by Carol Cunningham. The typeface is Tekton. Of 25 copies printed, this is number 11. Signed by Cunningham.
On Cover: Picture of clock. Maison L. Revol. Vezerance, France, 1798. Author's name misspelled on title page. In plastic case. B20th 40/826.

Cunningham, Carol. Jazz. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1996. 34 pp. 2 7/8" 2 7/8".
Colophon: Trish Daly did these wonderful drawings for my poem way back in 1967. They have been waiting a long time to be made into a book. The type is handset Optima, printed by letterpress at Sunflower Press. This is copy 22 of 35. Signed by author.
Purple paper cover with pasted design and title. B20th 41/806.

Cunningham, Carol. The Sun, an Alphabet. Mill Valley, CA: Sunflower Press, 1997. (68) pp. 2 7/8" x 2 7/8".
Colophon: Written and printed letterpress by Carol Cunningham at Sunflower Press. Drawing of Phaeton by Dianne Weiss, eclipse by my husband Bruce and the solar press illustration furnished by James Weygand of Nappanee, Indiana. From an edition of 50, this is copy 8. Signed by author.
Raised design on gold painted cover. In protective acrylic case. B20th 42/824.