(1939-2016)
Ken Blythe, from Tyneside in the UK, was the creator of amazingly detailed miniature books, filled with text and images. His name crops up a lot online, where he is very highly regarded as an artisan, but there is little biographical information available. I managed to get in touch with his daughter Kirsty, who very kindly told me a little more about her talented father.
Ken only began creating miniature books and charts after his retirement, in around 2003-4, after he’d been asked to create one for a friend. Unlike many of the artisans I’ve come across so far, he didn’t have any particular interest in dolls’ houses or collecting miniatures. His gorgeous little books were just the expression of a kind of irrepressible creativity. Kirsty and her husband Dax attended a few fairs to sell Ken’s books in 2003 and 2004, but Kirsty explained that, when they had children, fairs understandably became too much of a challenge, and they moved to selling Ken’s work online.
I asked how Ken decided which books to recreate in miniature. Kirsty says that he was particularly attracted by the more eccentric titles that he stumbled across online or in antiquarian bookshops. After Ken passed away in May 2016, he passed his collection of books on to Kirsty and Dax, who took advantage of lockdown to start going through the boxes – often surprised or amused by what they’ve found (Kirsty remembers one book devoted to urine, for example). They’re listing Ken’s books bit by bit on eBay under the name The Little Book Company. We’ve been lucky enough to win a few of their auctions so far and very much hope to continue increasing our collection of Ken’s gorgeous little creations.
With many thanks again to Kirsty for so kindly sharing some extra information about her dad. He sounds like the perfect person to have gone second-hand book shopping with!
Here are the works by Ken in the Quartermaine Hall collection so far:
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Pair of quintessential detective novels, reproduced by Ken Blythe (2022.238.1-2)
London: A Pilgrimage
Pioneering guide to 19th-century London by a leading French artist, reproduced by Ken Blythe (2022.215)
Book of Hours
Charming psalter full of colourful illustrations, reproduced by Ken Blythe (2022.205)
Artaxerxes: An English Opera
Miniature version of a 1762 opera libretto by Ken Blythe (2022.204)
Naval Flags of All Nations
Reference work listing British and international naval flags, by Ken Blythe
History of English Costume
Lively series of coloured prints showing costume from the middle ages to the Regency, by Ken Blythe
Butterfly Identification Charts
Two charts showing butterflies for the schoolroom, by Ken Blythe
English Shells: Conchology
Richly illustrated scientific text focusing on English shells, by Ken Blythe
2022.195
Portraits of Biblical Figures
A replica of a sumptuous early modern manuscript with portraits of Biblical women, by Ken Blythe (2022.191)
The Armies of Europe
Colourful picture book presenting army uniforms from across the Continent, by Ken Blythe (2022.190)
Album of Broadsides
Scrapbook full of broadsides recounting Victorian murders and ill deeds, reproduced by Ken Blythe
Geographical Fun
Delightfully inventive 1868 atlas with witty maps, reproduced by Ken Blythe (2022.192)
The Triumph of Emperor Maximilian I
Facsimile of a manuscript celebrating the deeds of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I by Ken Blythe
2022.188
Noble Families of Verona
A collection of coats of arms of noble Italian families by Ken Blythe (2022.152)
Tournament Book
A record of the deeds of knights in an early court tournament, by Ken Blythe (2022.117)
Volume of Georgian Musical Scores
Readable book of Georgian sheet music by Ken Blythe (2022.118)
Quartermaine Hall 