Collins gem dictionary of biography and mythology

Collins GEM is a collection of miniature books and dictionaries by HarperCollins. The original Collins firm published its first dictionary in the year , and its first series of Collins Illustrated Dictionaries in , including the Sixpenny Pocket Pronouncing Dictionary, which sold approximately 1 million copies.

With the invention of steam presses in the s, Collins became able to publish books and dictionaries in all sizes.^[1]

The precursor of the Gem format (four inches high and two-and-a-half wide) was the Collins Gem Diary, which became popular in the s.^[2] The first Collins Gem English Dictionary was published in the late s.^[3] Shortly afterwards came the Collins Gem Pocket Pronouncing Dictionary of ^[4] These were followed by foreign language editions, travel and reference guides.

Titles issued during the s and s (ranging beyond the staple language dictionaries) included the Dictionary of the Bibl