Kathrin Hohensee's books almost disappear in readers' hands - the smallest one barely fits on a fingertip. The trained bookbinder from Leipzig has been making miniature or doll's house books for around 30 years. She has developed, written and set a good 200 titles: from books for children, nature lovers or even about cities.
Real books for doll's houses all over the world
"Making them is my passion and I get a little recognition from selling them," says the 64-year-old. She also sells her books at fairs in the USA, England, the Netherlands and France. It all started with a collaboration with a wooden toy maker in the 1990s. "He wanted small, real books as props for his doll's houses."
The work involves juggling with the text, as a description or story needs to fit into a very small space, explains Hohensee. The text and the pictures determine the size of the book. The only requirement: it should always fit into a doll's house, i.e. not go beyond the scope of the 1:12 scale.
She designs the individual pages and arranges them in printed sheets. After printing, the bookbinding work begins: folding, cutting and assembling the folded sheets. Finally, the cover boards and spine inserts are measured and cut to size.
