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.

Wyncote Series

Q:  Hi, I have this red hard cover, Altemus printing of The Man Without a Country with a 1908 copyright date. The title is in gold on the front but without the author, and since there is also nothing on the spine, I think it had a dust jacket. I tried for about an hour to find a similar copy but could not. The last distinguishing feature is the red border found on most pages; I saw this on a small number of other printings. I would really appreciate help in finding out more about this edition. Thank you.

A:  Your book is from the Wyncote Series and was published between 1927-1933.

The four books in this series are reprints and did originally have dust jackets. See here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello. I have an undated copy of Representative Men by Emerson, published by "Henry Altemus Company", Philadelphia. From cover images on your web page, the cover design resembles 1901 Petit Trianon #14. The Vademecum Series list in the back includes 1--244, in alphabetical order. Is 1901 the likely year of publication?

A:  You are correct. This is the the 1901-1902 cover for a book in the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

The right half of the front cover had one of 16 flowers or one of two Alphonse Mucha pictures. The left side had a lady hiding up the title. It was seen in beige, blue or pink. The blue cover is the most uncommon. Examples are shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  While cleaning out my 100 year old great grandmother's basement, I located a Romeo & Juliet book that belonged to her mother. It appears to be a fairly early addition, but I am hoping you can offer further insight, including year published, & what you believe the value to be. Thank you for your time.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900. All the volumes in this series are reprints. This book originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

This basic format has a stereotyped pattern on the left side of the cover and one of numerous decorations, floral and otherwise on the right half. Some examples are shown here.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  Hello. I had recently come across your website, and I must say that it is very informative. I would like to ask you a question about a certain book that I have. I believe that it comes from the Boys and Girls' Classics (new), as your site identifies by its dust jacket: http://henryaltemus.com/series/images/S57_sw7a.jpg

I have the Black Beauty story version, and my question is about how much do you think that my book would sell for?

I will include pictures of my book in this email.

A:  This book is part of the 15 title Boys and Girls Classics Series.

These books were published between 1908 and 1926 and are all reprints. They originally came within a florally decorated labeled box.

A number of different linen swatch pictures are seen on these books. Certain cover pictures were seen in different years. See the website for details.

In this shape your book has no monetary value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Please give me any information regarding:
The Blithedale Romance (The Blithdale Romance, on the cover)
By Nathaniel Hawthorne
In great condition. Given as a gift in 1902.
What is worth? Thank you

A:  Your book is a reprint and was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series.

See: Vademecum Series for variant covers published during 1902.

This book only has nominal value.

Kipling Series

Q:  Hi, I picked this book (Gemini) up because I love Kipling and was curious about it, i saw that it is part of a series - do you know anything else? Is it rare? I cant seem to find it on any rare book sites. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of Altemus's Kipling Series. This 21 title series was published in 1899.

The books originally came with dust jackets.

Uncommon, yes - Rare, no. Any book with a jacket would be fairly rare.

A picture of the dust jacket is shown here

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a really old Cranford book with your name on the publishing part. Any value?

A:  Your book is a reprint published in 1907 as part of the Vademecum Series. In this shape it has no monetary value.

More than 40 different appliqué pictures have been seen within this front cover template.

The pictures (European oil paintings) in some instances can be combined to make up larger pictures.

For more information see: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

Young People’s Library

Q:  I have a copy of this book in my possession, I was wondering if it is valuable? Uncle Tom's Cabin. This inside jacket says Copyright 1900.

A:  You have shown a book from Series 202 Young People’s Library. With slight color variances this cover is #30 in both Format 2 and Format 3. Format 2 books were published between 1898 and 1903 and had a distinctive spine pattern. Format 3 books are published between 1903-1923 and also had a particular spine decoration. Without a dust jacket neither has significant value.

See http://henryaltemus.com/ypl/index.htm for more details.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  what is this book? Twice Told Tales

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/images/S143_1899_p17.jpg

All the of the titles in this series are reprints.

In 1899 these books came boxed. There is only one format but it was published with numerous variant covers. The left half of the front cover is unchanged but the right half has been seen with many different decorative patterns. A few examples are shown here.

Except for very collectible titles, none of the books in this series have more than nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Greetings, I found this book with my Uncle's treasured item's. He was born in 1917 and the book was his mother's. Wondering if it is worth keeping? Picture of cover and title page below. Also, as an attachment is the signature and date of owner which is inscribed on the page opposite the front cover. The Princess and Maud. Thanks much.

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897.

All of the titles in this series are reprints so only a very collectible title has any value. This title is not one of the valuable ones.

In 1897 this format was seen with a number of different color covers. Some are shown here.

This series was originally sold within a label box. See here for an example.