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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi there! I am having a difficult time finding this book anywhere but in my collection. Any thoughts? it is copyright 1899.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899.

It originally came within a labeled box. This book is a reprint.

You can see on the website that in 1899 the books of this series all had the same pattern on the left side of the cover whereas the right has any one of a number of different decorative designs.

Vademecum Series

Q:  This book (Song of Hiawatha) was given to me by my mother. Can you tell me when it was published, if its an original or reprint? And possibly a value on it? I can not find a date any where on it, seems to be in great shape other than what looks like a water drop on the front you can see in the picture. And some one wrote something on the first page and it was later blacked out with marker.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. This series includes only reprinted titles.

The Vademecum books can be dated by their covers. Your book was published in 1915. It originally came within a labeled red box. An example is shown on the series page.

Because it is a reprint, it only has nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  I have a book titled “Friendship”, written by Henry David Thoreau, published by your company. The hardcover is green with gold inlay.

When was it published and is it of any value?

Please advise and thank you in advance.

A:  Your book is part of the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series.

It was published in the 1909-1912 range. It originally came with a dust jacket.

This is not a very collectible title and since all the Altemus copies of this title are reprints, your book only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello Altemus Publishing,

Can you tell me about this book I have, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Copyright 1895 Henry Altemus.

The last page has the signature I included in the images.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900. It originally came with a labeled box.

During these years the books of this series had a stereotypical decoration on the left side of the cover. On the right side of the cover I have seen 27 different patterns (including your book's). All of them are shown here on the website.

Your book is a reprint and only has nominal value even in the best shape.

Mother Goose Series

Q:  After my parents died, I found:

Our Animal Friends: One Hundred Illustrations
Henry Altemus Company

In the attic. I know it was published in the late 1800s. I would like to sell it, but I have no idea what it is worth. The cover is worn, but the pages are in excellent condition (some dusty fingermarks). I have searched the web, but I cannot find any reference to it. If you would like, I can send digital photos. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciate.

A:  Your book belongs to the twelve book Mother Goose Series.

The book of this series came in one of three formats. Your book looks like it is a Format 1 book which was published in the 1903-1905 range.

These books originally came with dust jackets. Without the jacket and in relatively poor shape, your book will be a hard sell at any price.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Thank you so much for your time in reading my email and looking at what I have.

I have attached photos of Sheldon's "In His Steps" published by the Henry Altemus Company. I've only come across one other book with this front cover online, and there was no value placed on it.

This particular book belongs to a very dear friend of mine who lent it to me so that I could read it. It is a very good read! I wanted to return it to him with some background information on the value. I've seen prices of the same title but different publishers range from $3 to over $400. Any information you might be able to give me would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published 1901-1902 as part of the Petit Trianon Series.

During this year all of the books in this series had the same lady on the left side of the cover and any one of sixteen different flowers on the right half.

This book originally came within a labeled box.

Most of these reprints have very little value unless the title is a special one. So it is unlikely you would get more than a few dollars for your book.

Generally the prices you see online are not overly helpful. The first editions always sell for a lot but after that people are just trying to get what they can of the reprints.