MINIATURE BOOKS RELATING TO POSTAGE STAMPS. KALMAN LEVITAN. BLACK CAT PRESS. 1983. SET OF 2 MINIATURE BOOKS

A Bibliography. Two Volumes. Compiled by Kalman L. Levitan. 

Introduction by Robert E. Massmann. Skokie, Illinois.  

Limited Edition of 249 copies for private distribution.  Skokie: Black Cat Press, 1983.  150 printed pages, paginated continuously. "Printed in a limited edition for the author for private distribution." Introduction by Robert E. Massmann, designed by Norman Forgue of the Black Cat Press, printed by the Schori Press. With the 13-cent "mini" stamp of an Indian Head Penny tipped in as the frontispiece of the first volume and a copy of Soliloquy of a Postage Stamp, a keepsake produced by the Black Cat Press inserted in the second volume.

Vol. One Book Measures Approximately 70 mm High X 57 mm Wide X 9 mm Thick. 

Vol. Two Book Measures Approximately 70 mm High X 57 mm Wide X 10 mm Thick. 

Original red leatherette boards with gilt stamped titling and border. Composed in Linotype Melior and printed on Coronado Text paper by the Schori Press, Inc. Handbound by Bela Blau. Design, typography and production by Norman W. Forgue. 

 An expertly written reference book on the subject. Eight pages at the end of Volume 2 are left blank for notes. A fine copy. 

Levitan spent 30 years active duty in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He was a member of the Department of Defense Armed Forces Chaplains Board and served nine years as Senior Jewish Chaplain as advisor on Jewish activities to the Chief of Air Force Chaplains. He was Founder and first Chairman of the Miniature Book Society of America. He was an active teacher of Judaism. He received his BA from Yeshiva University, Master of Hebrew Letters from the Jewish Institute of Religion and Doctor of Divinity from Hebrew Union College. He did graduate study at Harvard Law School and Columbia University. In addition he published his own miniature books and wrote and edited volumes about miniature books. In 1983 he was instrumental in bringing together the collectors and publishers from around the United States that eventually formed the basis for the Miniature Book Society. Elected the Society’s first “Chairman” he helped draft bylaws and began an informal newletters. As a child, Rabbi Levitan’s father gave him a pocket-sized Hebrew prayer book printed in Warsaw in 1903. That was the beginning of a 2,000 volume collection that David Bromer (Bromer Booksellers, Boston) said was considered one of the most important collections. It spanned five centuries and included many rare and precious volumes.