Miniature books a business as well as a passion for Bromer

NAHANT – The old adage “good things come in small packages” has held true for books for 4,000 years.Anne C. Bromer, who lives in Boston and has a second home in Nahant, is an antique book dealer specializing in miniature books.Bromer, who will be speaking in Nahant on Sunday, and her husband David, own Bromer Booksellers in Copley Square in Boston.For almost 40 years she has been buying, selling and researching rare books at their shop and she has been fascinated with tiny books. Bromer explained a large number of books in all genres have been printed in special sizes, which are no more than three inches tall.”I am not a collector,” she said. “I am an antiquarian bookseller, who sells to collectors. We’ve been in business for 40 years and one of our specialties is miniature books. I’m still fascinated by them 40 years later. Miniature books are tiny treasures and many people don’t realize hundreds of thousands of books were printed as miniatures. The first edition of the Emancipation Proclamation was printed in miniature form.”Bromer added the first book about birth control was printed in miniature form and it was common throughout history to print religious texts in miniature form.”Religious books were printed in miniature form depending on what religious group was being persecuted at the time,” she said. “When Anne Boleyn (the second wife of King Henry VIII) was led to the guillotine she had a miniature manuscript of prayers in her hand.”Bromer added that almost every topic written about in full-size volumes has been covered in miniature.”There are cookbooks, children’s book and almanacs,” she said. “Some of these are bound in silk or beautiful leathers and some have jewels on them. They really are very fascinating and beautiful genre of book.”Bromer, who recently returned form a speaking engagement in Tokyo, has lectured at many literary institutions including the Boston Public Library and the Salem Athenaeum.Bromer co-authored “Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures” with Miniature Book News Editor Julian J. Edison.”My co-author has the most prominent collection of miniature books in the world,” she said.It is the first authoritative book on the story of diminutive books from ancient times to the present day. As well as being an outstanding reference for book lovers, it has served as the catalog for the 2007 exhibitions by both the Boston Public Library and Grolier’s Club of New York City.Bromer said her book was printed as a full-size volume so the photographs of miniature books could be reproduced in their actual size.”The book is almost square in shape,” she said. “The format was developed photographs of books are actual size.”Bromer is scheduled to speak at the Nahant Historical Society annual meeting on April 26 at 2 p.m. in the Serenity Room of the Nahant Community Center, 41 Valley Road.She said she would be bringing a bookcase of miniature volumes so attendees could have an opportunity to see and touch some of the miniature treasures. She said if time permits after the lecture she would appraise miniature volumes brought in by attendees.”Miniature Books: 4,000 Years of Tiny Treasures” will be on sale for $40 and 20 percent of the proceeds from the sale of each volume will go to the Nahant Historical Society. Admission is free and light refreshments will be served. As parking is limited at the Nahant Community Center, a shuttle van service will be available from 1:30-3:30 p.m. from the additional parking site of St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 248 Nahant Road.