Big to small and shapes between invites audiences to explore the incredible variety in the world of books. At one end of the scale are the immense elephant folios, a term for oversized books that often reach up to 58 cm in height. These grand works were typically scholarly or scientific texts produced with large sheets of paper on roller presses in the 19th century. In contrast, the miniature books held in UNSW Library Special Collections challenged the limits of 19th-century printing technology. The micro-book titled Smallest English Dictionary in the World (1893) is a tiny volume measuring 3 cm and requires a magnifying glass to read. Bridging the gap in both size and form are horn books, which are not books in the traditional sense but were a crucial part of early education. From the 15th to the 18th century, these paddle-shaped learning tools featured a single sheet of paper with the alphabet and a prayer, all protected by a thin layer of translucent animal horn, offering a unique and durable method of instruction for children.

Top image: Detail of the microbook titled Smallest English Dictionary in the World (1893). Printed in Glasgow by David Bryce & Sons. VF099/2

Accessibility: UNSW Main Library is wheelchair accessible and the exhibition includes large-text artwork labels. Displays and explanatory texts can be seen and read from a seated position.