Miniature Devotional Books

Miniature devotional books were very popular in the nineteenth century. These widespread books numbered in the hundreds and they often were extended to many editions and publishers, which included The Religious Tract Society and The American Tract Society.

Handy because of their pocket size, these meditation books were used by missionaries, servicemen and other Christians for guidance and inspiration.

They were small in size, many were just over 2 by 3 inches. Some even smaller at just over 1 by 1 inch. They are described as having a 64mo size (2 X 3). The higher the number the smaller the book because it describes the number of times a large sheet of paper was folded. (The “mo” being part of the ending of the Latin Word - sexagesimo-quarto.)

Daily Verses. Passages of Scripture in verse, for every day in the year. Published by The Religious Tract Society, London.

Gleanings of Heavenly Wisdom. Published by T. Nelson.

The Diamond Text Book. A verse for every day of the year. Published by S. D. Ewins. 128 pages. 1845. Also published by Henry Brooks, London, 1847.

The Golden Treasury.

My Peace. A word for every day. Contains a Bible verse for every day of the year. Drummond's Tract Depot, Stirling. Published by S. W. Partridge & Co., London. 1910.

Good Cheer. Daily Text Book. Published by Northern Publishing Office, Belfast, 120 pages.

Apples of Gold. By Fançois de Salignac de La Mothe- Fénelon. Published by N. L. Dayton, 1852, 96 pages. Also published by Lippincott, Grambo & Co., Philadelphia.

Bible Immortelles: a text book for mourners. By John R. Macduff. Published by Marcus Ward & Co., London, 29 pages.

The Book of the Prophet Isaiah. Published by James Nisbet, 1830, 248 pages.

The Contrast Between the Righteous and the Wicked. Published by The American Sunday School Union, Philadelphia, 61 pages.

Day Dawn. Published by The American Tract Society, New York, 144 pages.

Daily Gleanings from the Holy Scriptures, for the noontide refreshment of Christians. Published by Binns and Goodwin, Bath. Sold in London by James Nisbet and Co., and Whittaker & Co. Also published by Darton & Hodges.

Daily Manna. From the Tiny Library of H B. Nims & Co., Troy, New York.

The Daily Text Book. Published by William Mack, Bristol, 1872.

Part of the series:

• The Children's Birthday Text Book.
• The Keepsake Scripture Text Book.
• The Mother's Text Book.
• The Albumn Scripture Text Book.
• The Birthday Scripture Text Book. Every Day.
• A Daily Scripture Text Book.
• The Children's Daily Text Book.

Daily Refreshment for the Young:  a selection of texts and verses suitable for every day in the year. Published by Houlston and Wright, 1861, 128 pages.

Friendship's Jewel: A Gift of Remembrance. Published by J. Buffum, Boston, 1851, 96 pages.

Friendship's Offering: a sacred gift in verse and prose, embellished with engravings. Published by Rock Brothers and Payne, London, 1848, 192 pages.

Living Water or Daily Droughts from the Fountain. A book of daily Bible verses. 1836, 224 pages.

The Mosaic. By J. H. B. Published by Breed, Butler & Co.,1861, 96 pages. Quotations from Longfellow, Holmes, and others.

The Nature and Design of the Lord's Supper: and the obligations of Christians to its observance. Published by the religious Tract Society, London, 1845, 123 pages.

It is Well; or, Faith's Estimate of Afflictive Dispensations. Altered form the original work of Rev. John Hill. By G. T. Bedell, D. D., Rector of St. Andrews Church, Philadelphia. Published by Henry Perkins, 1834,109 pages. Also published by Hamilton, Adams & Co., London, 1834.

Plain Texts for Daily Use. With Introduction by the Lord Bishop of Wakefield. Also Introduction by Bishop of Bedford. Published by Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co.

The Northern Publishing Office, Belfast. Book titles:

• The Coming One
• Pure Gold
• My Redeemer
• Rock of ages
• Good Cheer
• Living Waters
• Bright Gems

The Spiritual Help. Printed by J. C. Barlow, Birmingham, 1826. Title page scripture:  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.—Psalm 119:97.

Self Employment in Secret. By Rev. John Corbet. Published by The Religious Tract Society, London, 106 pages.

The Sacred Gift of Devout and Useful Sayings. By John Q. Preble. Published by J. Buffum, Boston, 1851. Also published by G. W. Cottrell, Boston, 1851, 96 pages.

Titles of Christ, selected from Scripture. Published by The American Sunday School Union.

Diamond Miniatures by George Cottrell Publishing, Boston:

• The Wedding Ring.
• Golden Vase.
• Friendship's Jewels.
• Vase of Flowers.
• Crystal Gems.
• Offering.
• Floral Wreath.
• Seasons.
• Bible Gems.
• Daily Food.
• Sacred Gift.
• Gift of Piety.

Frederick Warne & Co., London, Bijou Text Books:

• Rills from the River of Life
• Dew of Hermon.
• Daily gleanings.
• Casket of gems.
• Bible Gems and Brief Prayers.
• Rays of Light.

American Sunday School Union, Philadelphia, Miniatures: (Forty-ninth Series)

• Sermon on the Mount, 64 pages.
• The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippines, 32 pages.
• The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, 32 pages.
• The Epistle General of John, 55 pages.
• One Hundred and Nineteenth Psalm, 60 pages.
• The Contrast Between the Righteous and the Wicked, 61 pages.
• Small Rain Upon a Tender Herb, 128mo.
• Sacred Gems, 32 pages.
• Daily Texts with Verses of Hymns for every day of the month, 32 pages.
• The Youth Monitor, or a daily text for the month, 32 pages.
• Spiritual Help, 128 pages.
• Titles of Christ selected from Scripture, 64 pages. 

Darton & Hodges, London, Miniature Text-Books:

• Rays of Light on the Way to Heaven.
• Rills from the River of Life.
• Bible Gems and Brief Prayers.
• A Casquet of Pearls. Divine and Human.
• The Dew of Hermon.
• Daily Gleanings from the Holy Scriptures.

H. B. Nims & Co., Troy, New York, Tiny Library:

• Dew Drops.
• Holy Bible.
• The Gem.
• Daily Manna.
• Aunt Rose.
• Tom Thumb.

Daily Food for Christians: a promise, and another scriptural portion, with a verse of a hymn for every day in the year. Each day of the year has: A promise in a Bible verse. A few lines of a hymn (usually four). Another Bible verse. Published by The American Tract Society and The Religious Tract Society.

A Chaplet of Flowers, comprising a scripture text, with a gem of thought illustrating its meaning, for every day of the year. Publishers include The American Tract Society. The book consists of a Bible verse with a comment on it by a famous person like H. Bonar or Baxter . Written by a woman confined to her room in the winter of 1847. The title originated from one of her favorite expressions "A chaplet of flowers from the spiritual greenhouse."

Crumbs from the Master's Table; or select sentences, doctrinal, practical and experimental. From a work by this title. This little book consists of paragraphs of thought on Bible verses. By William Mason (1719-1791).

Small Rain upon the Tender Herb is a devotional of Bible verses for every day of the year. The title is taken from Deuteronomy 32:2—"My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." Each day of the year has its own Bible verse. This book was very small in size, just over an inch by one inch, and it was very popular.

Dew Drops name was taken from Deuteronomy 32:2—"My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass." The book consists of one verse for every day of the year. Publishers include The American Tract Society.

Daily Texts, with verses of Hymns. Adopted for general use and suited for every year. Publishers include the Religious Tract Society.

The Golden Vase; A miniature gift. The book consists of pages of moral instruction. Published by J.Buffum, 23 Cornhill.

Gems, or, The Best Thoughts of Robert Murry M'Cheyne. Robert Murry M'Cheyne (1813-1843) minister of St. Peter's Church, Church of Scotland; Dundee, Scotland. With a sketch of his character by Rev. James Hamilton (1814-1867). Pastor of the National Scotch Church. Published by American Tract Society,  256 pages.

Heavenly Manna, or A Collection of Prayers and Promises for each day of the year. Published by The American Tract Society.

A text for everyday from the "Daily Light" Morning Hour.

• Bible Forget-me-nots - A daily book of divine promises decorated with Forget-me-nots.
• Bible Heartsease - A daily book of comfort and rest decorated with Heartsease.
• Golden Grain - A daily book decorated with Golden Ears of Corn.
• Green Ears - A daily book for youth decorated with Green Ears of Corn.
• Bible Immortelles - A daily book for mourners decorated with Everlasting Flowers.
• Bible Sunflowers or, Looking unto Jesus - A daily book decorated with Sunflowers.
• Bible Forget-me-not Casket - collection of the above six volumes.
• Golden Triplet of Bible Promises - A case containing: Bible Forget-me-nots, Bible Heartsease, and Golden Grain.

A Threefold Cord; or, A Precept, Promise, and Prayer, from The Holy Scriptures, for every day of the year. Published by the Religious Tract Society and the American Tract Society.

A Prayer and a Promise for every day of the year. Printed at the Chiswick Press by Charles Whittingham.

Pearls. The book consists of a Bible verse for every day of the year. Published by the American Tract Society. 128 pages.

Provision for Passing over Jordan by Rev. John Scudder M.D. John Scudder (1793-1851) was a medical missionary to Madras, India. He married Harriet Waterbury and had fourteen children, many of whom became missionaries. Published by The American Tract Society in 1846. The book consists of devotional thought. Title page: Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: for mine eys have seen thy salvation.—Luke 2:29-30.

Pressing Forward: Precepts, Promises and Admonitions. Published by G. J. Galloway, London. The book consists of a Bible verse for every day of the year.

The Mountain Daisy: A Daily Text for a Year. Published by Andrew Stevenson, Edinburgh.128 pages. The book consists of a Bible verse for every day of the year.

Our Daily Duty; or, Food for Christian Pilgrims. Published by T. Nelson and Sons, London, Edinburgh, and New York.191 pages. The book consists of a Bible verse and a hymn verse for every day of the year. Title page verse: Jeremiah 15:16—Thy words were found, and I did eat them.

Four Pearls from the Lord's Treasury; or, Precept, Promise, Prayer and Praise, from the Holy Scriptures, for each day of the year. Published by M. E. Munson, 77 Bible House, New York. 190 pages. Also published by Palmer and Hughes, 62 and 64 Bible House, New York.

The Wedding Ring. Edited by J.S.A. (John Stowell Adams). Published by J. Buffom, Boston, 1850, 96 pages.

The Ladies' Casket, containing a gem, together with its sentiment, and a poetical description for each day in the week, and each month of the year, by John Wesley Hanson. Published by Merrill and Straw or Merrill and Heywood, 1853, 152 pages. or The Ladies' Casket; A gift of friendship for the young, by Anne T. Wilbur, published by Edward A. Rice, New York, 1846, 288 pages.

Daily Bread for those who wait for the Lord. The book consists of a morning and an evening verse. Published by Hamilton, Adams and Co. London, 1833.

Daily Bread; or a texts of Scripture containing a Duty and a Promise for every day of the year. Selected by a lady. Published by L. and G. Seeley, 169 Fleet Street, London. 

The Christian's Daily Bread: a text book of Scriptural truths and promises, for every day in the year. Published by T. Nelson & Sons, 1853, 188 pages.

Guide for Little Footsteps. or Sure Guide for Little Footsteps. Bible verses for each day of the year, and verses and poems for each Sabbath. by E. A. J. Published by the American Sunday School Union, 71 pages.

Daily Light on the Daily Path. A Devotional for Every Day In The Year; In the very words of Scripture. Published by Samuel Bagster & Sons, LTD, London. Two Volumes: Vol. I. The Morning Hour. Vol. Ii, The Evening Hour.

Gems of Sacred Poetry. Published by The Religious Tract Society and The American Tract Society. 246 poems on 256 pages.

A Lamp for the Feet. By Harriet E. Dodge Jessup. This is a verse book, in which every verse has been carefully selected and illustrated by an appropriate stanza, for every day of the year. One Old Testament verse and one New Testament Verse and a verse of sacred poetry. Published by the American Sunday School Union. 190 pages.

Words in Season for Young Disciples; or, A text and a verse of a hymn for every day in the year. Published by Thomas Nelson & Sons, London, 191 pages. Also published by Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, Boston, 191 pages.

The Paths of Peace; or, words of wisdom for young disciples. Published in London, 1861.

The Believer's Daily Treasure; or, texts of scripture, arranged for every day in the year. Published by The American Tract Society. 1841. 192 pages. Also published by Presbyterian Board of Education. Also published by The Religious Tract Society. 187 pages. It consists of a Bible verse and a hymn verse for every day in the year. The title page has the Scripture verse: The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.—Psalm 119:72.

Our Daily Light; or, Portions for the Lord's Household. By the Reverend James Smith. Published by Thomas Nelson and Sons, 191 pages. Published by Eyre and Spottiswood, London. Also in the series: Our Daily Light and Our Daily Food.

Gift of Piety; or, Divine Breathings: in 100 Meditations. Thomas Sherman. Published by G. W. Cottrell, Boston, 1850, 96 pages. Also by J. Buffum, Boston, 1855, 96 pages. Also J. Q Preble, New York. Title page has Psalm 73:25—Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 

The Consecration Scripture Text-book. With text and verse for each day in the year. Published by S.W. Partridge & Co.'s.

The Dew of Hermon; a text of scripture and a verse of a hymn for every day in the year. Published by Frederick Wayne & Company, London, 188 pages.

Daily Promises and Precepts. Texts from the Bible. To which is added Sunday Register for a year. Selected and arranged by the author of “Sunset Thoughts." Published by Knight & Son, London, 1865.

The Morning and Evening Monitor: containing a text from Holy Scripture and a verse of sacred poetry, for every morning and evening in the year: adapted to the constant use of Christians.  Published by John Mason, 190 pages.

Bible Gems for Every Day of the Year.Published by G. W. Cottrell, 1851, 104 pages. Also published by J. Buffum, 1851.

The Children's Bread; or, daily texts for the young. Published by The Religious Tract Society, London, 1860, 128 pages.

Bible promises for every day: specially issued for the Sunday companion. Bryce's thumb book of Bible promises. For every day of the year, each page contains a Bible Promise in large type. Published by David Bryce & Son, 380 pages.

Bible promises for every day: specially issued for the Sunday companion

Daily Prayers and Promises from the Holy Scriptures. Passages of Scripture in prose. Published by The Religious Tract Society.