Henry Altemus Company

The following are questions submitted via email by our visitors.

If you have a question about Altemus books that you'd like answered please click on the Questions link at the bottom left of this page.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was hoping someone could provide me with some information on this book I found while cleaning out my grandmother’s attic. The Pilgrim's Progress

Here are some photos.

Is there a way to date this book? And find out what the value is?

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912. All the titles in this series are reprints.

This year’s books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

Your title is not especially collectible and is worth a couple of dollars.

Belles-Lettres Series

Q:  I have a hard cover book "Conversation" by Thomas DeQuincey copyrighted 1896 by Henry Altemus. What can you tell me about it?

A:  Your book was published in 1896 and is part of the Belles-Lettres Series.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series50.htm

This fifty title series contains only reprints.

Generally these books only have nominal value. In poor shape they have no monetary value.

Young People's Library Format 1

Q:  Hello, I have an old Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, I have looked endlessly for the exact copy but was not successful. I was hoping you could help me out, thank You! It's a 1896 edition and it stumps me.

A:  Your book is part of The Young People’s Library, Format 1. Alice was first published in this series in 1895. Based on the ads your book was published in late 1897/ early 1898.

This is usually a book that is in great demand although in this shape, that would not be the case.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Could you please tell me when this book was published? Lowell's Poems

A:  This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906. It has nominal value only.

During 1905-1906 the book covers have been seen with four different flower pictures.

All the books in this long running publisher’s series are reprints.

This year's titles were published within a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a volume - The Chimes - Charles Dickens - published by Henry Altemus Company. I am assuming this was published after 1900, but cannot find the cover in all the information on your website. I volunteer for a library and we received this as a donation and would like to put it up for sale on our website. Can you please help? My closest guess is 1907, but I can't tell if it is part of a series. Thank you - attached is a picture of the cover

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.

This series was a long running publisher's series of reprints.

In 1907 more than 40 different pictures have been seen on the cover appliqué.

These books originally were sold within labeled boxes. See here.

It has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have been going through a small box of antique books that my mother had put back. She has Alzheimer's and cannot remember where she bought these---this is one of the books so I was curious if you could provide information on it....Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

A:  This book is a reprint and was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. The Vademecum Series was the longest running Altemus publisher’s series. All of the books in this series are reprints. In 1915 all the books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

It has nominal value only.

Boys and Girls' Classics

Q:  I am wondering if you can tell me anything about the age and or the value of this book and if you could suggest how I would be able to sell it. Two Years Before the Mast
Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the 40 title Boys and Girls Classics Series and was published in the early 1900's. You can date it exactly by using this site.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. These books were originally sold in labeled boxes.

Your book only has nominal value.

Devotional Series

Q:  I have this copy of Drummonds Addresses. I could not find this cover online and wondered if you could tell me about it. There is no copyright year that I can find except it was published in Philadelphia at Henry Altemus Company.

A:  This book is part of the Devotional Series.

Your book is is a Format 5 volume.

It originally was sold within a labeled box.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Good day, I am looking for information about a book, Tales from Shakespeare. It does not have a copyright date and although there are photos of similar books, with the same title, I have yet to an exact match.

Attached are photos of the cover, the spine, the inside front pages one and two, and the inside back, along with a loose page.

Please feel free to contact me by return email or by phone. My information is listed below.

Thank you for your time and attention.

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.

It is a late reprint of this title. It originally was sold within a labeled box. (see here)

Finding an exact match may be difficult because in 1907 there were more than 40 different paste-on pictures used for the cover of any one title and the covers have been seen so far in six different colors. Thus, there are a possible 240 plus specific covers for any one title.

For more about this series you can look here: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

In terms of monetary value, it has nominal value only.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you give me any information on this book. Paul and Virginia. The front cover has some damage, but the back, spine and interior in good shape. How do you find the year printed? I could find no publishing details?

A:  This book is from the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1907. It is a reprint.

The 1907 cover was published with any one of four different appliqué flowers.

Originally it came within a labeled box. See here.

Because of the poor shape, it has no monetary value.