I can't add much at this time, but I did enjoy the OP and subsequent posts. I have a penchant for miniature books and manuscripts, and I have a nice, new copy of Burns poems I keep near by and take to the Supper each year.

I understand that the word itself, miniature, only came to mean small after so many small medieval manuscript books were made. It origianlly came from Latin minimum meaning red lead and referred to small pictures in illuminated manuscripts.