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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.

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Questions & Answers
Date Series Num Information
08 Mar 2013 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am trying to find the year this book was published and if this is the author's signature. and approximate value of this book (Natural Law in the Spiritual World). Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1902 as part of Vademecum Series. It originally came within a labeled box. Since Drummond died in 1897, it is not his signature. The title is common and the Altemus reprints have only nominal value.


05 Mar 2013 75

Devotional Series

Q:  A friend has lent his copy of The Pilgrim's Progress to me. It is an older book. It measures 6.5 x 4.25 inches. The cover is worn but still solid in the give in the binding. I thought I should try to find an approximate value in case my friend should put it away. I can't find anything about this particular book. Inside is a date of when it was given as a gift though we have no idea if it was new at the time. I have greatly reduced the picture quality of the photos for easier mailing. The cover is green and textured.

A:  Your book is part of the Devotional Series. It is part of Format 5 in this series and originally came in a labeled box. This format was published for a number of years. I suspect that the inscription date is close to the publication date.

Because this is a reprint of a very common title, it has very limited value.


02 Mar 2013 115

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more information on this print of "A Wonder Book". It has some obvious imperfections on the cover (unfortunately) but in overall fair condition. I did some searching on your website and managed to locate this in the "La Belle Fleur Series". Is it a rare find?

A:  The books of the La Belle Fleur Series are all reprints and therefore are limited in value. The series is one of the more uncommon of the Altemus publisher's series however. It consisted of 131 volumes and was only published in 1901. Some of the titles are a little bit more collectible than others. i.e. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass.

The books all came with a dust jacket which duplicates the front cover. Various color covers were printed.


26 Feb 2013 181

Valenciennes Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering about a book I saw on ebay. i was wondering if it is a first edition like the seller suggests it might be? Any information on this book would be greatly appreciated.

"HERES A VERY OLD ANTIQUE BOOK "POEMS" BY EDGAR ALLAN POE PUBLISHED IN (1895). ITS ACTUALLY IN GOOD CONDITION FOR BEING 118 YEARS OLD.. THE COVERS ARE STILL ATTACHED, THE BINDING IS GOOD & THE PAGES ARE IN GREAT CONDITION. I BELIVE THIS IS A 1st EDITION OF THIS BOOK, IT HAS 5 PLATES I COUNTED MIGHT HAVE MISSED ONE."


A:  The book on Ebay is an 1897 book which was published in the Valenciennes Series.

Altemus published this same group of poems in several series as early as 1895. So it is not an Altemus first edition. Also other publishers printed these poems prior to Altemus. So it is not a first edition in any sense.

As is frequently the case with Altemus books, sellers do not do any research and misidentify the books. But unfortunately most buyers take the word of the seller at face value. This book sold for $61. Probably about $50 more than it's worth.


24 Feb 2013 141

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I have been searching your website and can't find this book (Weird Tales). I bought it at an auction in Norton, KS. It is very clean and in good shape, no tears, dog ears, or stains. The front inside cover has been written on and has an address label attached.
Any info you might have and what it might be worth would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you


A:  This book was published in 1896. It is a reprint and was published within the Petit Trianon Series. It originally came with a labeled box.

Because this title was published so many times by so many publishers, it has limited value.


22 Feb 2013 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could give me some information on this particular book of poems by Edgar Allan Poe.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. It originally came with a labeled box. This title is a reprint and was published in numerous formats by Altemus and other publishers of the era. It has minimal value.


20 Feb 2013 73

Daily Food Series

Q:  Hi. Can you date and identify this book (Gold Dust)?

A:  Your book was published in 1921 as part of the two volume Daily Food Series. This book originally had a dust jacket. The books of this series are somewhat scarce.


18 Feb 2013 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was trying to do some investigating about a book that I was given by my mother in 1968. It was given to her by a school teacher for Christmas in 1932. The book is Black Beauty. There is no copyright date other than by a photo inside that shows a date under the picture of a man and a black horse. That says Copyright 1899, by Henry Altemus. The cover is light blue with gold & burgandy flowers on the cover. The spine of the book is also decorated with the same gold & burgandy colors. The book measures 6.75" x 4.5". Attached is a photo that may help you help me. If this can be identified, do you also know the value. Is this something that should be insured?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1900.

During this year the covers have been seen in many different colors. These books originally came within a labeled box.


16 Feb 2013 47

Beauxarts Series

Q:  We have a Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson with an inscription dated 1899. I attach a scan of the cover. We have found a close likeness of the cover on your website that is labelled as 1898. It has some illustrations and is in very good condition. Can you give us an approximate value for this copy?

A:  This book was published as part of the Beauxarts Series in 1898. It is a reprint and has limited value. Since Treasure Island is a very collectible title, there may be collectors who are interested in your book. Generally speaking however, these reprints have only nominal value.

During 1898 the covers of this series' books have been found with a number of variant colors.


15 Feb 2013 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  Wondering value of this book (Walden). Condition is soiled, few pages curled and two sets of pages missed trim blade on bottom in the section listing publishers other work at back. more pic to follow.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. Each year the covers changed. This book's cover is from 1905-1906. During this publication year the covers came with several different color covers and four different flowers pictured on the appliqués. Your book has the Nasturtium flowers. Other cover flowers are Orchid, Queen Anne's Lace and Iris. These books also came within a labeled box.

Because your book has a common title and is in poor shape, it will be a hard sell at any price.


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