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:  I’m including a picture of the covers of a book of Longfellow’s poems (Vol. I &II). There are no dates in either of these books. In the back of these books is a list of Altemus’ Illustrated Vademecum Series. Can you give me some information regarding the dates these volumes were printed and what they might appraise for. Thank you very much for your interest.

A:  These books are part of the Vademecum Series and were published in 1903. They originally came within labeled boxes.

They are reprints and only have nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I see that you published In His Steps in 1899. This is my treasure. It is a hard bound. I don't see it listed on your website. Was it printed in sb first, possibly elsewhere?

Others on Ebay say the firt pub date is 1897. Is mine a first Edition? If not how do I list it? What category is it in? Do you know it's value? If not please give me guidance on where to go.

A:  It was published in 1899-1900 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. Your book is not a first edition. You can find a picture on the series page.

It has only nominal value and will be hard to sell at any price (especially in this condition).

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I came across this pretty little book at an estate sale. I only paid $3.00 for it, and plan to keep it for my personal collection of older, interesting looking books.

The pages are all connected to the spine, and the cover and pages are all intact and in remarkable condition. I think this book just sat on a shelf most of it's life.

I was wondering what you could tell me about it? Publication date and value are my big questions. I supposed anything else you could tell me would just be fun to know!

It's Hawthorne's Twice Told Tales. The outside spine says the title and then "Altemus" at the bottom. I've included a shot of one of the inside pages, which is located at the end of the book indicating it was published by Henry Altemus' Publications in Philadelphia, PA.

A:  Hello,
Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1898. It originally came within a labeled box.

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

$3.00 is probably a fair price.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  I found this book (The Raven and Other Poems) on a website and would love to get an idea of when it was printed. I have attached a picture of it.

Thank you very much for your time!

A:  Hello,
It was published between 1912 and 1915 in the "Poems We Love" Series.

It originally came within a labeled box.

The $55 asking price is significantly more than this $10-20 book is worth.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I recently picked up a book and it seems to me that it is part of the Vademecum Series. It is Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essays Second Series. Just wanted to know the publishing year and perhaps any more info regarding the painter of the applique. Picture is attached.

A:  You have a 1907 book. See Vademecum Series for more information.

During the early 1900's there were several Vademecum Series formats that had parts of European paintings as paste-on's on the front covers. Your book's paste-on (appliqué) is part of a larger picture.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi - I don't know if your site is still maintained or not, but found this book recently and figured it couldn't hurt to ask you to identify it. Based on what I've read, I've only figured out that it was after 1900. It is the Courtship of Miles Standish.

Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1908. It originally came with a box. A representative sample of a box is shown here.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Non Series #45

Q:  I could not find this cover anywhere online, have you?
Don'ts for Boys
1902, Henry Altemus Company

A:  This non-series title was published in five different formats. This one is the fourth edition. See http://www.henryaltemus.com/images/NS_45.htm

This edition has been seen in numerous linen cover designs. The books originally came with dust jackets.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  i bought this book (A Christmas Carol) and would like an appraisal. thank you

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1902. It originally was published within a labeled box. It is a reprint and although a nice book, has very limited value. Reprints of The Christmas Carol were published by numerous publishers and are very common.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am looking to see if this book (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) has any value. Thank you!

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

It is a reprint and originally came within a labeled box. These 1901 publications have been seen with more than 40 different front cover paste-on paintings. Five different color 1901 books are known so far.

Unless an Alice in Wonderland collector has to have this format, the book has little value.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I didn't find any information on your site about the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland book that I own, dated 1897. I have attached images to see if you have any information about it. Thank you.

A:  This book is part of the 15 volume Boys and Girls Classics Series.

The books in this series were published between 1908 and 1926 and are all reprints of previously published Altemus books. All of the books originally came within labeled floral decorated boxes. There are a number of different covers on these books. Your cover was published in the early-mid teens.