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.

Colorful Story Books

Q:  I have a poor condition book published by Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia ..the back of the first page says copyright 1930 by Howard E. Altemus Printed in the United States ...it is called The Little Black Sambo Story Book by Helen Bannerman and Frank Ver Beck with illustrations by the authors...I have searched and cannot find the book with the title most that I have found are the story of Little Black Sambo I hope you have some more information.

A:  This book is part of Series #70, the Colorful Story Books Series. It was published in 1930.

The six books in this series are each comprised of four or five abridged stories (books) from the various Wee Books for Wee Folks' Series. Each volume was published with a colorful dust jacket. See here.

Platt and Munk later reprinted all the titles.

Boy and Girls Classics

Q:  A CHILD'S GARDEN OF VERSES
Stevenson, Robert Louis
Published by Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia
Cant find anything on this one no dates.

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

This particular cover was published in the early and mid-teens. The fifteen titles in this series are all reprints and were sold within labeled floral covered boxes.

This cover is part of a larger picture which is shown here.

Classics Series

Q:  My book cover seems to fit the 1912 Era but not sure. The Chimes. There is no publish date and no ads in the back. Would love to know more about the book please. Looking for publish date, and I guess value too etc.. Thank you so much for your time. I love old books as I do much of things from history.

A:  This format was seen with both the Classics Series and the Slip-in-the-Pocket Series. The exact series cannot be determined without a dust jacket.

This book was published in the 1907-1915 time range. It is a reprint.

In this condition it has little, if any, value.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I have a Henry Altemus Rip Van Winkle book and have done some research on your website. It appears to be a Series 58 or 59. It says “Henry Altemus Company” on the Title Page. However, I see that you suggested to another person to look in the back of the book and date some of those books to see what year the book is. I’m not sure how to go about doing this as there are so many books listed. I’d like to see what my book may be worth. Any help you could afford me is greatly appreciated!!

A:  Hello,
Regardless of the date it has little value. This book is in rather poor shape.

Regarding dating your book:
It was published between 1900 and 1906. To be more exact--
Start here:
Look at the ads in the back. Then look at this page: Boys and Girls Classics
See where it says Formats 1 and 3. Follow the directions.

Library of Standard Authors

Q:  I just purchased a book "House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, copyright 1892, by Henry Altemus. Bound in a decorative burgundy and green with red flowers, with gold highlights. I paid $20 at an estate sale. From what I can see on this web site, I overpaid. Any additional information would be appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1897 and is part of the Library of Standard Authors.

It is a reprint and has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you tell me about this book? A Wonder Book

A:  This book was published in 1897 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint which originally was sold within a labeled box.

All of the titles in this series are reprints.

During this year the left half of the cover had the dot pattern whereas the right half of the cover had one of many different decorative patterns.

As of this time I have seen 15 different patterns. Some examples are shown here.

Classics Series

Q:  I have this copy of "The man without a country" by Hale. I was unable to find this date of publication and or cover design on your web-site. I purchased this in the early 70's and had forgotten about it! Any information you give would be appreciated!

A:  This book is #22 in the Classics Series and was published in 1907. It was originally published with a dust jacket. A representative jacket is shown here.

It is a reprint as are all of the title in this series.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I was just wondering if you could tell me if the book was worth anything. Peter Rabbit. Found it recently and didn't know what to do with it. Thank you.

A:  The extremely popular Wee Books for Wee Folks Series of books were published from 1904 to the early 1930's. There were three formats for the Peter Rabbit title. The first Altemus (and American edition) was published in 1904 as part of a two volume boxed set. The other book was The Foolish Fox.

Later in 1904 the second edition was published. This edition had two formats. A green cover was noted until about 1908 and then your book with the beige cover was published until 1917.

All of the Tale of Peter Rabbit Wee Books show the 1904 copyright date on the title page. this is regardless of the date the book was actually published.

Note the date at the base of the title page here.

Value $10-20

Vademecum Series

Q:  Would like to know it’s value. Song of Hiawatha

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. This long running publisher's series consisted only of reprints. Each year or so the titles in the series were changed as was the cover format of the books.

Your book is from 1902. There were more than 40 different appliqué paintings that appeared on the cover that year.

Since it is a reprint and the title is not widely collected, your book only has nominal value.

Boys and Girls Classics (Old)

Q:  Hey I found this Alice's Adventures in Wonderland book at my parents and was curious about the year, history and value of the book. Thanks!

A:  This book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. These books were published between 1899-1906. There were two formats. The one you have and another that has gold gilt decorative patterns within some of the rectangles. See here.

Dating these books is quite easily done. By using the ads in the back of the book, the publication date can be narrowed down to within a year or two. There is a chart on the series' webpage that outlines how to do this.