Rare Set of Edwardian Literary Bust Novelties with Concealed Miniature Books

A charming and unusual set of three early 20th-century literary novelties, each combining sculptural portraiture with miniature bookbinding, reflecting the Edwardian fascination with both classical authorship and ingenious design. The group comprises finely modelled bronzed busts of Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and Samuel Johnson, each mounted on a small integral socle and ingeniously formed with a hollowed reverse to house a corresponding miniature volume. The books retain their original cloth bindings and include The Cottar’s Saturday Night and Other Poems (Burns), The Lady of the Lake (Scott), and The Diamond English Dictionary (Johnson), published circa 1905–1907. Such objects were produced during a period of renewed interest in canonical literature, intended as both decorative curiosities and educational novelties. The juxtaposition of portrait bust and text creates a tangible link between author and work, embodying the literary figure in both image and word—an appealing conceit characteristic of the Edwardian gift market. The busts display a rich bronzed patina with good surface definition, while the miniature volumes, though showing signs of wear consistent with age and handling, remain intact and legible. Their survival as a complete set is increasingly uncommon. Design Registration: RD 549516 - Stamped on each