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.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I have had this edition of Paradise Lost for a while now. I attempted to look it up and think that it is a 1902 Beauxart series, but I cannot find any similar items online. Could you verify that information for me, and possibly tell me a bit more about it? Thank you for your time and consideration.

A:  You are correct about the series and the year of publication: Beauxarts Series - 1902

It was originally sold within a labeled box. An example is pictured.

It is one of a myriad of reprints of this title that were published by numerous publishing houses in the 1890-1910 era.

Since the title is quite common, it has little value to most collectors. The exception might be someone who really likes the cover design or a person who collects this title and does not have this edition.

Non Series #23

Q:  I'm writing to you about a book that I have in hopes that you can help me. I have a copy of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell by Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. I found the picture on your website showing it to be 1922. I'm intrigued by your website and hope to eliminate myself from ever being one of your listings about errors on EBAY. I really want to be an informed seller.
Thank you for any information or pricing that you can provide to me.

A:  Your book is indeed a 1922 Altemus publication of Black Beauty. It is not part of a series. It originally was published with a dust jacket which matches the front cover of the book. See a picture at ../images/NS_23.htm

It does not have much value but you can determine that with an auction on Ebay.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a series of Altemus books that I purchased from my college library, 35 years ago. The title page says Henry Altemus, Philadelphia. They are signed by the owner of these titles- J.Clay Stone, from Paris, Kentucky, and signed with the date 1898.
I have several books with similar covers. No dust jackets. All have wear. Many have pencil notes inside the front covers. All measure about 4 x 6.5 inches.

I would appreciate any information that you may have about these volumes,
Marvel: Dream Life, The Reveries of the Bachelor, Poe: Weird Tales

A:  These three books are from the Vademecum Series.

They were published in 1898 and originally were sold within a labeled box. All of the books in this series are reprints.

The covers of the 1898 Vademecum books have the same pattern but have been seen with a number of different colors. Other examples are shown on the series page.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  Can you give info on Evangeline by Longfellow published in 1843? Vademecum series

A:  This book was published in 1898 as part of the Sanspareil Series not the Vademecum Series.

It originally came with a dust jacket.

This edition of course is a reprint and in poor condition has no value.

Vademecum Series/Beauxarts Series (#48)

Q:  Hello, I recently picked up these two volumes for my wife. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1899 to 1902, I think. Through The Looking Glass was written in 1899. Both editions are described as being in Very Good condition. Could you give me some information on these two books? Are they worth anything? I bought them both because I thought they were nicely done. I know my wife will love them as she is a high school English teacher. I wanted to do something different this year for Christmas. Thank you for your time.

A:  You have two very nice books. The first editions were published in 1866 and 1871. Your books, of course, are later reprints. The Alice book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. The Through the looking Glass book was published in 1902 as part of the Beauxarts Series. Both books originally came in labeled boxes.

Although they are not the most collectible of the Altemus reprints (those books have illustrated covers), their contents are the same. Clearly they are in great shape and have a very nice appearance in their own right.

Value is difficult to determine. The reason is that although the books are quite common, because of the Alice interest, they occasionally sell for decent dollars. I have seen them sell for $5 and I have seen them sell for $50. Rarely should they go for more than that because they are so easy to find.

Devotional Series

Q:  We have this book in our possession and are not able to find another like it. It is title Evening Thoughts. The inside says Evening Thoughts Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. There is no year.
Can you share any other information with me?

Thank you

A:  Your book is part of the Devotional Series (Format 9)

The exact year of publication is unclear but it was probably in the teens.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I have another book (She Stoops to Conquer) I hope you can tell me more about. From looking at the Henry Altemus web site it appears to be from the Vademecum Series, its #189 in the L'Art Nouveau Series and I think it would be dated in 1901.

I've looked on the internet for more information but there seem to be numerous books and I have no idea of what the value of this book would be.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. This title appeared in numerous Altemus Series. If you look at the pictures of the covers, you can identify where it belongs.

During 1902 this format was published with a number of different color covers. More than 40 different pictures have been seen within the cover template. See ../vademecum.htm.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  This seems to be an 1988 Beaux Arts series edition of Lalla Rookh, based on your series descriptions and photos. However, the cover is green rather than blue as described in various listings on Abe Books and in your photos. Wonder if that makes any difference in value - if this is of more than nominal value. It’s in VG condition based on my inexpert inspection.

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1898. The green colored cover is probably the most commonly seen.

It is a reprint and this title is not a very desirable one. Thus, it only has nominal value. Other representative covers are shown on the series page.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello. I found this book (Poe's Weird Tales) among my grandmother's things and am wondering if it has any value. It is marked copyrighted 1895 by Henry Altemus. Thank you for any information you may be able to give me.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896. It is a reprint which originally came within a labeled box.

There is quite a bit of collector's interest in books by Poe. So even though it is a reprint, it may have some value. Determining that value is probably best done by an auction like Ebay.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi. I was wondering how much this book is worth if it is worth anything at all. It's A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903. It originally was sold in a labeled box. Here is an example of the box.

During 1903, more than 40 pictures have been seen on the cover. Numerous colored covers were published. The book is a reprint and only has nominal value.