Little Leather Library Books

Collection

Identifier: EPH 5025

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection includes 31 titles, with the authors ranging from Shakespeare to Yeats.

Dates

Creation: 1916-1923

Creator

Boni, Charles, 1894-1969 (Person)

Language of Materials

English

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

Conditions Governing Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Biographical / Historical

The publishers Albert and Charles Boni came up with the idea of miniature editions of classic works of literature to be included as a premium with another product, much like baseball cards were included with a pack of cigarettes. The advertising executives Harry Scherman and Maxwell Sackheim suggested the Whitman's Candy Company of Philadelphia. The venture was successful, and after the success of "sweets with a book," the brothers published more miniatures (3" X 4"), which were sold at 10 cents apiece through mail orders as well as through such outlets as Woolworth's. Along with Horace Liveright, the Boni brothers went on to the founding of the Modern Library, and Sackheim and Scherman were instrumental in the founding of the Book-of-the-Month Club in 1926 .

Extent

.75 Cubic Feet (2 containers)

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection includes 31 titles published by the Little Leather Library Corporation.

Arrangement

Materials are arranged with one miniature book per folder.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The circumstances surrounding the acquisition of this collection by the Hesburgh Libraries are not known. Arranged and described by Kenneth Kinslow. Finding aid 2014, by Sheila Smyth and Ingrid Adams.