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 own two Ralph Waldo Emerson Book of Essays which came in First Series and a Second Series. They have a green cover with a silver trimming around the cover and have a date written inside of them as if they were a gift to someone in 1895. I ws hoping that you could give me some more information regarding the books. What year were these books published? Also how much these books might be worth? I haven't been able to find these books online to compare too. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I have attached a few photos of the book for you to look at. thank you so much.

A:  Your books are part of the Vademecum Series and were published in 1894.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. During 1894 the books of this series had various cover colors.

Unfortunately because this title is not in great demand by collectors, these books will probably not sell for more than a few dollars.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  Hello. I was hoping you would be able to tell me a bit about some books I have. There are 3 and from what I gather based on your website, they are part of a collection of writings pub. by Altemus.

There is some water damage to one of the books and there is an inscription written on all three of the books by the owned and dated 1903.

A:  Henry Altemus published a 39 book series of Shakespeare's works beginning in 1899. The individual volumes are very common. The set initially came in a labeled box.

There were eight different formats during the publication history of the set.

Looking at your books it is clear they were published after 1900 since the imprint is Henry Altemus Company (and Altemus incorporated in 1900).

Beyond that the key distinguishing features for your books are whether the endpapers are plain or decorated and if the books are made of hard leather or limp leather.

The formats are clearly described at Shakespeare's Plays.

In regards to value, without the dust jackets or without a full a set in a box, the books only have nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a copy of Henry Altemus Productions – Treasure Island… has the typical dedication to S.L.O. and American gentleman – but the cover is quite different from your website. Do you have any idea of the age of this book?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

During this year all of the cover basic decorative patterns are the same but many different color variations have been noted.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Please let me know when this book (In Black and White) was published.

Thank You Very Much.

A:  This book was published in 1900 as part of the Vademecum Series.

This is a publisher's series in which all of the titles are reprints and have little value.

During this year the cover picture of flowers was stereotypical but the color of the cover had a number of variations.

Non Series

Q:  Hey I had gotten this book (Grimm's Fairy Tales) for Christmas and I was wondering if you had information on it. Someone had written 1898 in the front cover but I wasn’t sure if that was the publishing date or not. Thanks

A:  This book was published in 1918. It is 333 pages and has numerous short tales with a number of colored pictorial illustrations. It is oversized at 8.25 x 6.

After 1922 Altemus reprinted this book with a new cover that has an appliqué. The new book has plain endpapers and the key dating point: At the base of the copyright page it says "Printed in the United States of America" indicating a post-1922 publication.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you give me any information about this book (Balzac's Shorter Stories)?

A:  It is a part of the Vademecum Series.

During this year the basic format of the cover was unchanged throughout the series but numerous different cover colors have been seen.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I have this beautiful book in front of me. It is Uncle Tom's Cabin gifted at Christmas in 1898. The Copyright is 1894. I did not see this book cover on your site and was wondering if you could tell me a little more about it. Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1898.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have this book (Black Beauty) from my great great grandfather. I tried researching this cover and cannot find it anywhere. Is there anything you can tell me about this?

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1897.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me something about this Treasure Island book I have:

Is it from the Vademecum series (I think it is)? It is 6.5” x 4.5”. Is it really from 1899? Is it common, and of nominal value as I suspect?

I have attached some pictures of the book.

A:  This book is from the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. Originally it was published a labeled box.

Although the book itself is not common, it is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Greetings,
I have a book of Longfellow Poems that was published by Henry Altemus Co. I am hoping you may be able to provide some information regarding any history or potential value. The pictures are not great but I'm hoping you are familiar with this edition since your web site is so comprehensive. Thanks for your attention!

A:  Your book was published in 1897 as part of the Petit Trianon Series.

During this year all the books had the stereotypical dot design on the left half of the cover and any one of a number of decorative/floral designs on the right half of the cover. The book originally came in a labeled box.

Your book is a reprint of a not greatly in demand title and therefore has only nominal value.