"I go into my library and all history unrolls before me." -Alexander Smith

Velvet curtains sweep away to reveal rows and rows of books. Light from a candelabra flickers across the dusty volumes. In the shadows, papers and photographs peek out from their hiding places tucked among the books. A ladder reaches to the very top shelf, where four wooden crates rest, each containing strange and mysterious antique documents. An old bust of Queen Victoria perches in the center, watchfully guarding the tiny treasures. This is the Library of Forgotten Books!

Each of the pieces in this collection has been carefully designed and executed to fit together as a whole---and every piece resounds with life and history! Created using original antique documents and books, there isn't a scene that this wouldn't look stunning in--- studies, attics, bedrooms, living rooms...Victorian houses, modern houses, witches' houses, stores, laboratories, castles... Since this collection includes hundreds of moveable pieces, you may find it helpful to secure the objects with wax or glue.

Each of the 200 books lining the shelves has been lovingly and painstakingly crafted to resemble the real thing. High resolution images printed on textured paper give the covers unsurpassed detail and dimensionality. These books were created specifically for this bookshelf, and since the most you will see of the books are their spines, my design focused on that, carefully crafting them from images of real antique books. The 200 books do not open. But this collection also includes 6 additional books that are in a fixed open position, laying flat and displaying beautiful pages from real antique books. And one of the open books has a secret compartment with a key hidden in it! The 200 books are more than enough to fill all five shelves, with a few books left to scatter across the room, or set on top of the cabinet.

No real working library can ever be too tidy so, in addition to its 200 books, the library houses many mysterious and unusual pieces:
-antique bust of Queen Victoria
-antique candelabra
-25 pieces of antique ephemera, including pages from books, photographs, and letters, all miniature high resolution copies of real antique documents, handpicked from some of my best-selling ephemera sets.
-four wooden crates
-ladder
-open book with beautiful antique pages and secret compartment for hidden key
-5 open antique books
***PLEASE NOTE: framed paintings are not included!***

If the five pictures shown here aren't enough to make you fall in love, follow this link to an entire album dedicated to the project. You'll find loads more pictures, as well as research and photos of the library in progress!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.263040990443449.62650.167477086666507&type=3

***FREE SHIPPING***
*1-inch scale
*Bookshelf measures 9 1/2" across, 7 1/2" tall (without the crates on and bust on top), 2" deep
*My pretty packaging makes every order the perfect gift!

All of the pieces in this collection---including the bookshelf and ladder---are available separately. Looking to add to your existing miniature library or study? Then check out my "Miniature Books by the Inch" and my "Insta-Library" sets to buy batches of miniature books meeting the specific requirements of your own design. Also check out the LIBRARY section of my store for an huge selection of classic book titles as well as many sets with specific themes and color schemes!

***Lauren is the brains---and steady hands---behind Etsy sensation, L. Delaney Miniatures. Her work has infiltrated dollhouses worldwide, as well as The National Building Museum and the Tiffany & Co. holiday windows. Her writing has appeared in Atlas Obscura and the Etsy Seller Handbook. Born and raised in Kalamazoo, she now lives and plays between Michigan, New York, and a haunted mansion in New Orleans's Garden District.***