The “Bab” Ballads in Miniature

6W W. S. Gilbert. New York: Robert K. Haas Inc., ca.1920. Little leather library.  Notes These vintage miniature classics represent a highly collectible piece of early 20th-century American mass-market publishing history, originally popularized by the legendary Little Leather Library Corporation before the company was acquired and renamed by Robert K. Haas, Inc. in the 1920s. The company itself operated from 1916 until 1925. Measuring roughly 3" x 4" to fit easily in a palm or coat pocket, these miniature editions feature distinct, heavily embossed faux-leather bindings—such as the iconic Redcroft or Little Luxart editions—designed to offer the look of high-end library bindings at an affordable price. Finding these volumes in well-preserved condition is increasingly uncommon for antiquarian catalogs because their flexible synthetic covers were notoriously prone to drying, cracking, and deterioration over the past century, making crisp, un-flaked copies of titles a delightful find for miniature book collectors. Description Flexible green leather boards. Browning to some pages within but very clean. Some chipping to head and foot of spine. Second section of text detached from spine