Private Press of Ian and Helen MacDonald Printer of Miniature books from 1974 2007
The printing business started in Paisley Scotland in 1968 by husband and wife printers moving to Wigtown when I believe they began their miniature presses. 47 miniature books were printed various sizes are recorded 27mmx27mm, 51mx51mm etc. They were limited editions and I belonged to their miniature book collectors’ club. Alas I joined rather late and only have 12 tiny books kept in a very small dolls house cabinet.
The one book of interest to the DCGB would be the ‘Queen Mary’s Doll House Library’ 65mm x 50mm printed in 1989 It has 1 colour plate with full blue or burgundy binding. Some had gilt edging. Limited edition of 265 copies 24 pages and ONLY sold in the USA. The rarest book was printed in 1975 titled ‘3 Point Gill Titling Catalogue’. Size 2.9mm x 2.9mm in their first attempt at the smallest printed book in the world. Only 25 copies were printed but most of these were stolen so only a few books have survived. An interesting miniature was’ The Millennium’ book believed to be the first book published in 2000 1/1/2000 any where in the world. It is the New Testament King James Version printed under Royal licence granted by Queen Elizabeth through the Lord Advocate of Scotland. I got two copies for my daughters. It is 65mm x 43mm 2000 copies 287 printed pages in a special box with a label. Funds raised went to poor children in Ethiopia. My interest in miniature books began when I was 10 when at my school’s bazaar I found ‘The Dolls Surprise Party’ by Aunt Laura published in Buffalo 1863. I must have paid 25c for it as I also bought a pair of French doll gloves that I now know would have been for a fashion doll. I was an early collector. I would have had no more than a $1.00 spending money.