Museum of Miniature Books, Baku

The Baku Museum of Miniature Books is a museum with more than 5,000 miniature books. It is often described as the only museum in the world devoted exclusively to miniature books. In 2014, it was recognized by Guinness World Records for having the world’s largest collection of miniature books at the time.

The museum was established in 2002 by book lover and collector Zarifa Salahova. Its exhibits come from her private collection, which she assembled over several decades. The books come from more than 60 countries, with a particularly large number published in post-revolutionary Russia and during the Soviet period.

The museum holds rare editions of works by authors such as Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, and Gogol. It also contains religious works, including a 17th-century Quran, as well as miniature editions by Azerbaijani writers and poets.

Among the museum’s smallest exhibits are three 2-by-2-millimeter microbooks published by Toppan in Tokyo: “Alphabet of Flowers,” “Symbolism of Precious Stones,” and “Signs of the Zodiac.” They are so small that they can only be read with the help of a magnifying glass. The collection also includes Flowers of the Four Seasons, measuring just 0.75 by 0.75 millimeters.

Besides showcasing the unusual craftsmanship of miniature books, the museum also aims to encourage an interest in books and reading.