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:  Could you folks give a publishing date for this book (Emerson's Essays). The title page states first series. Thanks.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.

During this year any one of more than 40 paste-on pictures have been seen on the cover. This cover was published in a number of different colors. It was originally sold with a labeled box.

Young People's Library

Q:  My father just passed away and I found this book (Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas) amongst his belongings and I was wondering about this book due to its age and the little research I did online about it. Can you shed some light on it?

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library. This series was published from 1895 to 1933. This book is part of Format 1 which was published between 1895 and 1898. Each format has a characteristic spine decoration. The Format 1 spine is shown here.
The Format 1 books with this title have been seen with two different cover illustrations and in several different colors. They are shown on the series page. The edition of your book can be determined by examining the ads in the front and the back and looking at the website information. ../series/series202F1.htm
The Format 1 books are slightly smaller (6.5 x 5) than the Format 2-4 books.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Greetings, I am curious about this little copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland published by your company. There is no publication date, but the date 1903 is handwritten in the front. There is also an extensive catalog of other books for sale in the back of the book.

The book has all of the original black and white illustrations. It is in good shape. The binding is intact with no torn, damaged or missing pages.

I have been unable to locate any other copies to compare it to. If you could give me any information, e.g., possible worth, publication information, and/or any other insights I would be very grateful.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came within a labeled box. It is, of course, a reprint but has all of the original text by Lewis Carroll.

Alice books are widely collected and although it is one of a myriad of reprints published during this era, there may be an Alice collector who just has to have this format. The only way to determine the worth is probably by putting it up for auction (on Ebay for example) and see what happens. You just never know.

Waistcoat Pocket Series

Q:  I am having a hard time finding information on this book and was hoping for some insight and value of possible. Thank you. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

A:  Your book is part of the Waistcoat Pocket Series.

It is Format 3 in that series and was published between 1911 and 1921. It originally came in a labeled box.

It only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi, How are you? I spent Thanksgiving with a friend and his parents. I mentioned that I was a Shakespeare fan and his mom showed us a copy of Tales from Shakespeare printed by Henry Altemus. The book looks particularly old and the cover is beautiful to me as I have an obsession with shamrocks. I tried searching both your website and google to figure out the publishing date but haven't been successful. I attached pictures of the book and it's title pages. Could you please tell me what you know about this edition? We are all really interested in finding out more about it.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. Originally it came within a labeled box. The cover format for 1897 was published in a multitude of colors.

It is a reprint and has little value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I have been looking all over for price range for this book that I have but I have been unable to find much info on it via the internet. I am not sure if it is rare or not. I am really hoping you can be of some help! I have attached some pictures of the book to this email. Any help at all that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1898. All of the books in this series are reprints.

It generally sells for only a few dollars if it sells at all.

Vademecum Series

Q:  We have the attached book (Tanglewood Tales) in our library and it was published by Henry Altemus Company and is in excellent condition. We are trying to find out how much it is worth, however are unable to find another book with this cover or the year it was published. Can you help us?

A:  Your book was published in 1904 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came in a labeled box. During this year the covers were published with a number of colors. Four different flower appliqués have been seen on the front cover.

Flowers and a representative picture of a labeled box are shown on the series page.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Young People's Library, Format 4

Q:  As per your information on your website, I assume this book is format 4, #63. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. What what this book be priced at? It is in excellent condition, however a name on the inside.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 4. This format was published between 1923 and 1933. The books all have a book appropriate appliqué on the cover. The dust jacket matches the cover of the book.

The books in this series only have nominal value unless a dust jacket is present or the book has a very collectible title, i.e. Alice in Wonderland.
Your book will be a hard sell for more than a few dollars.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found this book at a garage sale the other day, I have scanned all the google info on Cranford: Mrs. Gaskell that I can possibly absorb and have yet to find an image that looks exactly like this book. I did find a Benjamin Franklin book from the same "Henry Altemus - Philadelphia" that has the exact same hardback binding, coloring, and design - just totally different content and titling was within it. Just curious as to why I don't see this particular combination of hardback and content within the pages of Google that I have combed so far. Hoping you might be able to clue me in on the specifics of this magnificent little story book - it would be much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

A:  Your book is an 1896 publication and is part of the Vademecum Series.

This title was reprinted by numerous book publishers in the 1880-1900 range. There are hundreds of different formats in various color covers, etc. Any one version might be hard to find. For instance your book but with an orange cover. But finding the title in a reprint is very easy. For that reason, unless your title is one that is coveted by collectors, it has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am researching a lot of old books and came across this one (Black Beauty). Most books that I have are from the 1800's and early 1900's. This book doesn't have a copyright page. So I have no idea what year it is from. Can you help me identify it? I am looking to sell these books and would really appreciate any info.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. All the titles in this multivolume, multi author series are reprints. The picture on the cover is one of more than 40 European paintings that were used as cover decorations. See ../vademecum.htm

This book only has nominal value.