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:  Tom Brown's School Days. Approx. 4.25 x 6.25 inches. No publishing date is noted. Do you know when it was published? The frontispiece shows a sketch of four boys, one is lying on his face. Thanks for any help.

A:  This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series.

During this year the books were sold within a labeled box. See here.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hi I found a copy of this book while going through out books. It was printed in 1892 and is in fairly good condition for its age. I was wondering if you could give me a approximate value. I am local so if need be I could bring the book to you. Attached are some photos of the book. Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1898 as part of the Beauxarts Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

In 1898 there were several cover variants. See here.

This title is not very collectible and the book is not in very good shape. It has little or no monetary value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I can't seem to find a copy with this cover. Lady of the Lake

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

The left half of the cover of this format has been seen in blue, pink or beige. The right half has one of sixteen different flowers.

These books originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  Hello I am trying to figure out when this book was published and if I should let my children read it? A Child's Garden of Verses

A:  This book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. This series was published between 1908 and 1926. All of the titles were previously printed in the Young Folk's Library Series. The only difference between the volumes of the two series is the covers.

There are a number of different covers associated with this series. They are linen swatch wrap around covers. This particular cover was used in the early and mid teens. It can be dated more precisely by using the ads in the back of the book.

These books were originally sold within a floral labeled box.

The entire linen swatch that this cover came from is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  How valuable is my book? Plain Tales From the Hills

A:  This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. This publisher's Series consisted of reprints only. During this publication year the books were printed with various color covers. Some examples are shown here. Originally these volumes are boxed.

This title is not a very collectible one and therefore has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I received this very old book from a distant relative, it belonged to her Mother, I do believe this book is at least 100 years old. The lady that gave it to me is now 84, so I know it is old. The inside cover says Evangeline a Tale of Acadie and other Poems by Henry W Longfellow, Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia, the binding is loose, but all the pages are present., easy to read. Any idea on a date or value, it if is of value I may just sell it and give her the money, she could use it.

A:  This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. It is a reprint. Originally it was published within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

It has no value.

Belles-Lettres Series

Q:  This is one of thousands of books my son "inherited" when he purchased a neighbor's home after he passed. My researching brought me to your website....we are trying to get an idea of the value of some of these so when we bring in a dealer, or whoever, we have some idea of the value. You probably already know this is from the Belles-Lettres series #50. Conversation by Thomas De Quincey, approx 5"x7", silver on white, copyright 1896, 47 numbered pages. In great shape with a few marks on the back....maybe a stain or ?. We would appreciate any info you can give us as to a value. We are just getting started on this room full of books so there may be others of this series. Any suggestions as to good searching sites. We check Ebay but there's such a range of prices....and I read your piece about the pricing and all it takes into account.

A:  You have identified this book correctly. The 31 small books in this series were published in 1896-1897 with a number of different covers. See: Belles-Lettres Series

Even though your book is in nice shape, there is very little demand for the book in this series. It will be difficult to get more than a few dollars in an auction or direct sale.

In His Name Series

Q:  I have a book called, The Creation Story by William E. Gladstone. There is a stamp on the inside front cover of the shop that sold it: JONES & WATSON - Jewelers, Opticians, Magazines, Books - KIRBYVILLE, TEXAS. I have attached a picture of the cover and the copyright page. Can I rely on this as the proper copyright - 1896 - or is there another date I should use?

A:  This book was published as part of the In His Name Series in the 1904-1907 time frame.

This is a Format 3 book. These books came with a dust jacket that lists the titles of the series on the jacket front. There were four different covers-each with a different flower and rectangular idyllic picture. See here.

These titles are hard to sell at any price.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Worth of 1895 copy of Oliver Wendel Holmes Poems. Good condition. (Disregard stamp.) Thanks.

A:  This book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series. It is a reprint of a not very collectible title and thus has only nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering if you could provide me with more info on this copy of Treasure Island. Thank you for your time.

A:  Your book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series.

The 1897 books in this series were published with a number of different color covers. See here.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.