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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have a Scarlet Letter book by Altemus Publishing with jacket cover matching 1899-1900 picture you show. It is in good condition as cover is good w/ fraying on bottom right. Inside page has name to whom book was given (Ella M. Parsons) and the contents page up to page 12 describing The Custom-House are separated from the binding.

My question to you: Is there any value to this book?

A:  This book is from the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1897.

Originally it did not have a dust jacket but was sold within a labeled box.

This format has the stereotyped left front cover dot design. The right half of the cover has been seen with 14 different flower designs as of this date but more probably exist. Some are shown here.

Your book is a reprint and has nominal value.

In His Name Series

Q:  Back in 2007 my ex husband and I bought a house in North Brookfield Massachusetts and we were remodeling and in one of the walls we torn down found this book (Jessica's Mother) in it. I was wondering if you had any information about this I have attached photos hopefully it helps thank you.

A:  I believe your book is from the In His Name Series.

Your book is from the first format of this series. In this format the right half of the cover had one of 16 flower pictures. A better picture of an example of this cover is shown here.

Unfortunately it is in terrible shape. If you are wondering if you have discovered a hidden treasure (as everyone hopes for), this book is not it. In this condition it has no monetary value.

Christmas Gift Series

Q:  Lucile by Owen Meredith

A:  Your book is part of the Christmas Gift Series.

It was published in 1906-1907. Originally it had a piece of holly attached to the front cover and was sold within a labeled floral decorated box. It only has nominal value.

Pictures of a book with the holly attached and the box are shown here.

Golden Treasury Series

Q:  I'm trying to track this book (Drummond's Addresses). It has copyrights and signatures dating between 1891 and 1927. According to my research, it wasn't originally published until 1894, and I can't find this particular cover. I also can't find a series number.

A:  Your book is part of the Golden Treasury Series, Format 2 and was published in 1899-1900.

This format was published with several color covers.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found this book in my Grandmother's trunk. Book: Line Upon Line.

I have not been able to find a date, just a series with author as unknown per you web site search. Thank you for your time in advance.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903. During this year, the volumes in this series had one of more than 40 different appliqué pictures.

These books originally came within a labeled dust jacket. The covers were published with any one of a number of colors.

Love and Friendship Series

Q:  I recently purchased a book called "Spiritual Law" by Emerson. It was published/copyrighted in 1896 by the Henry Altemus Company. After consulting your absolutely amazing website, I realized that there was a difference between the format/look of my book and your information on your website. It mentions that it was part of the Belles-Lettres series and the same format as the Eternal Life Series. Looking at the format description of the Belles-Lettres Series and seeing a photo of the Eternal Life Series format in your Q&A pages, it is clear that my version is somewhat different. Mine is cloth with brown paper and has a book title pasted on the front. Would you have more information on the copy and how much it is worth?

A:  Your book is actually part of the Love and Friendship Series. If you look at the pictures on the series page, you will see that your book matches the Format 5 volumes. Unfortunately, it only has nominal value.

This series was published between 1901 and 1912.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Old Christmas 1899. Excellent condition. Does it have any value?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900. It is a reprint and since this title is not in particular demand, it only has nominal value.

In 1900 this cover was seen with multiple colors. See here for some examples. These books were originally sold within a labeled box.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  Romeo and Juliet. The book is 4 1/4 by 5 1/5 192 pages in play form. I would like to know what it is worth and how many are in the series and the year it was published. It was a Valentines gift and I might want to add to the series. Thank you.

A:  There were 39 plays included in this set which was published between 1899 and 1933. These little books were published in eight different formats and could be purchased in a boxed set as well as individually. The individual volumes had dust jackets. In order to know when your book was printed, I would need more information.

You can determine its date by checking here: Shakespeare's Plays

These books are very common and rarely sell for more than a couple of dollars each.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Do you have any idea if this is part of the first edition collection? The Light of Asia

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1898.

All of the books in this publisher's series are reprints.

During 1898 the covers of the books in this series had a stereotyped pattern on the left half of the front cover and one of many decorative patterns on the right half. These books came within a labeled box.

Other covers that have been seen are shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, Trying to identify this book published by Henry Altemus company. In the pink border is the date of HA 1842 but I know this is probably the date of the company inception. On the website I could not find this cover color or any other information except in the prose book section on this piece. Any information that you could shed on this piece would be appreciated. The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table

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

The 1842 date noted on the title page does represent the year of Altemus and Co.'s establishment.