Museum of Miniature Books

• Located in the Old City (Icherisheher) of Baku, Azerbaijan.

• The museum officially opened on April 23, 2002.

• It was founded by Zarifa Salakhova, who is also the main collector.

• The museum exhibits miniature books — that is, books of extremely small size — collected from various countries around the world.

Features and Collection

• The museum is considered the only one of its kind in the world dedicated entirely to miniature books.

• The books are incredibly small; some are as tiny as 2×2 mm.

• The oldest book in the collection is a miniature Qur’an dating back to the 17th century.

• In 2014, the museum’s collection was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest collection of miniature books in the world.

• The books are published in many different languages — including Azerbaijani, Russian, English, German, Arabic, and others.

• The exhibits are categorized under themes such as Azerbaijani authors, Children’s books, and Miniature books from around the world.

Visiting Information

• Address: 67, 1st Qala Street, Icherisheher, Baku.

• Opening hours may vary, so it is recommended to check the official website or call ahead before visiting.

• Entrance is often free of charge, and guided tours are available for visitors.

Why It’s Interesting

• Miniature books demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship in printing, design, and bookbinding at a remarkably small scale.

• The collection is both historical and international, representing different countries and time periods.

• For book lovers, it’s a rare opportunity to see how the art of publishing can be mastered even in the smallest possible format.

Brief History

• Zarifa Salakhova began collecting miniature books in the 1980s.

• The museum received official registration in 2000.

• It gained international recognition in 2014 after being listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.