see:
(defcustom minibuffer-history-minimum-string-length 3
  "*If this variable is non-nil, a string will not be added to the
minibuffer history if its length is less than that value."
  :type '(choice (const :tag "Any" nil)
		 integer)
  :group 'minibuffer)
>>>> "sb" == SL Baur <steve(a)xemacs.org>
writes: 
sb> 
sb> Didier Verna <verna(a)inf.enst.fr> writes:
> xemacs -vanilla &
> M-x make-frame-on-display <:0>
> M-x make-frame-on-display <press Up> 
sb> 
> I get "No preceding item in minibuffer history "
sb> 
sb> Problem reproduced.
sb> 
> This doesn't occur if I give ":0.0" instead of
":0" 
sb> 
> ?? 
sb> 
sb> ??
sb>