micro book n.

a book having the text reproduced at a reduced size by the use of microphotography or microprinting

In later use referring to any of various actual forms of media having very small text.

  • 1932 Belfast Telegraph 21 Mar. 3/4

    Comrade Talmud, a Leningrad scientist has invented a ‘microbook’, in which the printed page is the size of a postage stamp. His process may be new, but books of this size, to read which a strong magnifying glass is necessary, have been in existence for many years. If he had invented a book worth using a magnifying glass on—now that would have been something to talk about!

  • 1943 ‘A. Boucher’ One-Way Trip in Astounding Science-Fiction Aug. 100/2 page image Anthony Boucher bibliography

    There were even microbooks in the rocket, with a small pocket-model viewer; there was hardly space for a projector.

  • 1950 P. Anderson Gypsy in Astounding Science-Fiction Jan. 70/1 page image Poul Anderson bibliography

    Einar…was nine years old and getting interested in the microbooks we had from the Traveler—and so, ultimately, from Earth.

  • 1953 D. V. Swain Transposed Man in Thrilling Wonder Stories Nov. 25/1 page image Dwight V. Swain bibliography

    The general lumbered over to a built-in microbook case, ran a blunt thumb across the backs of the reel-cartons on the top shelf, finally pulled one out.

  • 1966 N. Barrett Starpath in Worlds of If 54/2 page image Neal Barrett, Jr. bibliography

    Won’t bother people. Just stay away from it until after it loses its strength at harvest time. It’s all in the microbook in the seed pack.

  • 1982 R. F. Young Universes in Asimov’s Science Fiction Aug. 52 page image Robert F. Young bibliography

    There was a micro-book library on the ship; and on my way back from the black hole, when I wasn’t taking care of Withers, I read, read, read.

Research requirements

antedating 1932
Earliest cite

Belfast Telegraph
Research History
Mike Christie submitted a 1943 cite from Anthony Boucher's "One-Way Trip".
Simon Koppel submitted a 1932 cite from the Belfast Telegraph.

Earliest cite in OED2 was 1970; OED3 was updated in June 2003 to 1944.

Last modified 2021-04-16 18:53:31
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.