Miniature Book Competition
The Miniature Book Society is devoted to developing and maintaining continued interest in miniature books. You need not be a member of the Miniature Book Society to enter.
Each year the Miniature Book Society hosts an international book competition for miniature books. The purpose is to encourage the high-production of miniature books. A distinguished panel of judges reviews the entries based on three areas: Creativity, Quality of Materials, and Skilled Craftsmanship. Three books are chosen for the highest award: The Distinguished Book Award.
Qualifying Books & How to Enter the Competition
Your book must meet the MBS definition of a miniature book: No dimension may be greater than three inches (76.2 mm). However, if the book includes any kind of container, that container may exceed three inches. Your entry must be a published edition of at least three (3) copies in the last two years). If your book is not a published edition, but only a single copy, we consider this an “artist’s book” or a "one of a kind" book. It may be submitted for exhibition only, and will not be eligible for a Distinguished Book Award. However, it will be included in the MBS Competition & Exhibition Catalog. (See below for distribution details). Please no repeat submissions. This exhibition provides an opportunity for those who do not make multiple copies to display their work.
How many entries may I submit?
You may submit up to three (3) books for the current year’s competition.
What is the entry fee?
For MBS members: $30 per entry For non-members: $50 per entry
To pay via PayPal, send payment to: minibooksoc.treasurer@gmail.com. If paying by Paypal, please add $3 to cover processing fees. To see about becoming a member of MBS go here.
What rights do I give if I enter the competition?
You give the MBS a one-time right to photograph your book for our Competition Catalog. A printed copy of this catalog is provided to every MBS member, to everyone who enters the competition, and to each member of the jury. The catalog will also be posted on the MBS website, along with catalogs from past years. Photographs, along with your name and winning book details, may also appear in the MBS Newsletter and MBS marketing material.
Will I get my book back?
The three Distinguished Book Award winners will automatically become the property of the Miniature Book Society. Each winning book will be added to the permanent collection of previous winners in the Archives at the Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington. Non-winners may choose to donate their entry/entries to the Lilly Archives. All entries are also likely to be displayed at our annual MBS conclave.
(To learn more about the Lilly Library, go here.)
How does the competition work?
Those wishing to submit their books send one copy of each book they wish to enter to the competition committee. Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form and the appropriate entry fee. No photographs please, and ensure you package your book properly to reduce chance of damage.
The committee will circulate all entries to a jury of three experts selected for their expertise in the publishing field: publishers, dealers, collectors, writers or artists. The jury will evaluate the entries, and select three best-of-show books for the Distinguished Book Awards.
The competition committee will photograph the exterior and interior of each entry in color and prepare a catalog showing all the entries and identifying the Distinguished Book Award Winners.
A note on security
The MBS will exercise due diligence in handling all entries during the necessary process of shipping entries to and from the jury, taking photographs, and mounting the books for display. However the MBS cannot be held responsible for damage to, or loss of, any entry.
Please ensure you package your book properly to reduce chance of damage.
Shipping address and for more information about the MBS competition:
Rick Hill
MBS Competition Chair
9290 Tower Side Drive #401
Fairfax, VA 22031 USA
Previous MBS Distinguished Book Competition Winners
To see past catalogs go here.
2023
“SECRET LEXICON - TOWER BOOK”
Author: Emile Goozairow
“BLOOD”
Author: Sue Leopard
“NUNNEHI”
Author: Gabrielle Fox
2022
“DOGS CATS”
Author: Mitsuo Toyazaki; Publisher: Miyako Akai
“MY TRIP TO THE CRAB NEBULA”
Author: Alvey Jones; Publisher: Open Sky Press
“COYOTE AND THE SHOOTING START”
Author: Natalie Belting; Publisher: Carol Schwartzott
2021
“BEAUTIFUL BOOK SPECIAL EDITION”
Author: Miyako Akai; Translator: Larry Seidman; Publisher: Kototsubo, Isaka, Kuki, Japan
“ALDUS MANUTIUS: A FOOTNOTE IN HOSTORY”
Author: Caroline Y. Brandt; Binder (leather): Tony Firman; Binder (cloth): Deborah Evetts; Publisher: Cyclone Books, Richmond, Virginia, USA
“MOONLIGHT/MONDNACHT”
Author: Joseph von Eichendorff; Illustrator: Erika Patocka; Translator: Anonymous; Publisher: Offizin am Wolfersberg; Entrant: Herbert Hupfel, Vienna, Austria
2020
“WHO?/WHERE?”
Author: Herbert Hupfel; Illustrator: Hasan Akten; Publisher: Offizin am Wolfersberg, Vienna, Austria
“UMBRELLA”
Author, Illustrator, Publisher: Mathi Page, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
“SAINT LUCIA”
Author, Illustrator, Publisher, Camille Riner, Custer, South Dakota, USA
2019
“THE ATTIC”
Author and Illustrator: Mathi Page; Publisher: Masako Ishiguro, Japan
“THE MORNING FAN”
Author and Illustrator: Edward Gory; Publisher: Patrice Miller, Aredian Press, Texas, USA
“SEWING/BLOUSE”
Author and Illustrator: Mathi Page; Publisher: Masako Ishiguro, Japan
