Thumb Bible

With miniscule dimensions of approximately 1.5" x 2.5" (38mm x 64mm), the Thumb Bible format has a tiny surface area around 3.75 square inches or 24 square cm. Also known as Thumb Bibles, these microscopic books were able to fit in the palm of the hand. Popular in the late 18th century as novelty miniature Bibles containing the complete religious text, Thumb Bibles were meticulously printed with tiny but legible type. The extreme 1.5" x 2.5" size allowed them to be discreetly carried and concealed. Especially common in England and America when miniature books became a novelty, Thumb Bibles were ultimate portable editions. Despite their tiny pages, Thumb Bibles contained the complete biblical text and could include hundreds of pages printed on both sides. This was made possible by elaborate decreasing of letterpress type. While more novelty than practical reading, Thumb Bibles showed incredible craftsmanship in condensing content down to a palm-sized package. Their success came from pushing portability and typographic limits to extremes while presenting full religious scripture.