32mo

With very compact dimensions of approximately 4" x 6" (100mm x 150mm), the 32mo format has a tiny surface area around 24 square inches or 155 square cm. Also referred to as Thirty-Two Mo or 32mo, this book size gets its name from 32 leaves of paper folded into a single signature during old bookbinding methods. Slightly larger than 64mo books but smaller than Sextodecimos, 32mos became popular for miniature and pocket-sized editions of literature, poetry, and religious texts. The miniature 4" x 6" size allowed books to be highly portable and discreetly stored, while still having readable formatting. Especially common in the 19th century for portable bibles and chapbooks, 32mos were ideal for keeping literature easily accessible. Originating from early book printing practices, the compact 4" x 6" size could comfortably fit around 100-150 pages printed on both sides. While less common today, 32mo remains useful for specialized miniature books and portable pocket editions when minimal bulk and weight are essential. Its success stems from allowing legible text in an incredibly small and portable package.