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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.

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Questions & Answers
Date Series Num Information
30 Jun 2016 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found your website and wondered if you could help determine the market price of The Cricket on the Hearth published by Henry Altemus.
Thanks much.


A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906.

During this year four different flower patterns were placed as paste-ons (appliqués) on the covers. See here.

The covers were published in a number of different colors and the books came in a labeled box. See here.

All of the titles in this series are reprints so only the most collectible ones have any significant value.

This title is not among the valuable ones (in my opinion).


28 Jun 2016 185

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I found this small book and was trying to determine when it might have been printed. From what I have read on the web site it appears it may have been prior to 1916, although the information does not mention red lettering on the blue-grey cover. Is there any value to this book? The Robber Kitten

Thank you for any information you are able to give.


A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks' Series-Format 2.

This book is pictured as Format 2b #6. It was published between 1912 and 1918. Note that between 1904 and 1912 this title was published with a green not beige cover.

It originally came with a dust jacket. It is pictured here.

Without the jacket it has minimal value.


19 Jun 2016 87

Favorite Series for Young People

Q:  Hello, I was cleaning out my bookshelf and found a copy of Altemus' Favorite Series Alice In Wonderland and was wondering if it held any value. I think it's a Format 1 #2 (via your ultra-informative website) and there is a light pencil inscription that reads "Glenn [S or G] Murphy, Christmas 1901" on the inside.

A:  Nice book. You are right. It is from the Favorite Series. It is much less common than the Young People's Library versions that sell reasonably well on Ebay.

If you are selling it, I think Ebay is a pretty good place and I would expect $25-50 but maybe more depending how you describe it. Dating it should be easy (1900-1901) if you look at the ads in the back and then the dating information on the web page: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series87.htm

In an informative blurb I would stress that it is from the Favorite Series and is fairly rare etc.

The books in this series did come with dust jackets but they are very hard to find.


16 Jun 2016 202

Young People's Library

Q:  Hello,
Thank you very much for being out there with needed information. I actually read this book last night with pleasure, first time since the late 40’s probably, at that time with less pleasure, and this morning it occurred to me that it might be valuable. No marks on it of any kind. Robinson Crusoe
Is it worth anything?


A:  This book is a reprint as are all of the titles in the Young People's Library. Unless it is a very collectible book (e. g. Alice in Wonderland) or has a nice dust jacket, the volumes in this series have little monetary value.

For more information see: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series202F3.htm Examples of this title's dust jackets are shown there.


09 Jun 2016 57

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  This is a Henry Altemus Company's Publications, Mother Goose Rhymes, Jingles and Fairy Tales, some of first pages are missing, can you provide any info on this book. It was given to my grandmother in 1912. Thanks.

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series.

The 15 titles in this series are all reprints and were published between 1908 and 1926. Originally they were sold within a floral decorated box.

Dating your book can be done by looking at the ads in the back of the book and dating the latest editions listed.

Unless a book in this series is in great shape or a special title, it has little value.


07 Jun 2016 143

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I am trying to find out the possible value range of an antique book that once belonged to my grandmother, entitled Poe's Poems. I believe it is a first edition, and strangely, it has no publication date printed within it anywhere. It does appear at the back of the book under the list of "Publications of Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia" as number "...159 Poe's Poems" under the heading "Altemus' New Illustrated Vademecum Series." I am attaching multiple photos of the book...sorry that my phone's camera is not very good.

I would appreciate any info. you can provide.


A:  Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. Originally it was sold within a labeled box.

The cover is interesting because of the illustration on the right which was drawn by Alphonse Mucha, a well known Czech artist. It is called "Poetry".

Several Altemus formats feature Mucha drawings.

Ordinarily it might be worth a few dollars, but in this shape it has no monetary value.


05 Jun 2016 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I am cleaning out some books and this is one I searched online for and found your site! Can you tell me anything about this book? Copyright is 1899. The Yellowplush Papers

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. It originally came within a labeled box.

In 1901 there were more than 40 different appliqués seen with this cover.

It is not a very widely collectible title and has little, if any, monetary value.


27 May 2016 69

Classics Series

Q:  Hello,
I went through your website, but I wasn’t able to tell what year my book might be from. Kept for the Master's Use. It’s not terribly important, but I would like to know if you are able and have the time.

Here are pictures. There is no other publisher information anywhere in it.


A:  This book is part of the Classics Series.

The books in this series were published in five different formats. This is the earliest format.

These covers were published in the 1907-1913 era.

This format was published with a dust jacket. Shown here.


25 May 2016 50

Belles-Lettres Series

Q:  I have in my possession a copy of Character, wondering what to do with it? Not sure how to grade condition, either. Any advice?

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

The titles in this series of leatherette books are not very collectible and have little value.


13 May 2016 143

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Please any info would be great. I got book (Lucile) from my grandmother and i know nothing about it but your site was helpful thank you. i know you prolly don't appraise books but if you could just please give me a ball park idea i would hate to give something away for nothing. Thank you for your time.

A:  Hello, Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint.

In this format the left half of the book front cover has a stereotyped pattern whereas the right half either has one of sixteen flower patterns or one of two illustrations done by Alphonse Mucha. Your book has a Mucha illustration.

You can read a bit about this variant here: ../about/updates112605.htm from a November 26, 2005 post.

Although your book is in nice shape, it has minimal value. Certainly less than $20.

The other Mucha cover is shown here.


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