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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.

We recommend that those inquiring about the identification of a particular book format send pictures along with their question.

 

Click thumbnail images to enlarge.

 

Questions & Answers
Date Series Num Information
19 Feb 2012 179

Vademecum Series

Q:  This book has been in our family for a while and would love to find out more about it. It is "The Wonder Book" by Nathaniel Hawthorn.
Any info would be great!


A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. This series is comprised of numerous reprints of poetry, essays, the classics, etc.

In 1897 the cover was published in a number of different colors while the underlying decorative pattern remained unchanged.

See ../series/series179.htm for more information.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.


18 Feb 2012 143

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have a copy of A Wonder Book Hawthorn small with no publishing or copyright dates. Can you tell me how old it is and if there is any value to it other then its cool!

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. During this year all the Petit Trianon Books had the same pedestal design on the left of the front cover (white, pink and blue have all been seen). On the right half of the cover one of 16 flower pictures were possible. For all the possibilities see ../series/series143.htm

This book only has nominal value.


17 Feb 2012 57

Boys and Girls Classics Series

Q:  Hello, I am a Seller Broker and a Collector has asked me to sell one of his Alice's Adventures in Wonderland books. I have conducted research but am hoping you can give me some insight as to the year of publication and value of his edition. I have attached a photo of this book, including some ads in the back and the title page.

A:  This book was published as part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. See ../series/series57.htm.

This series used the plates from the Young People's Library-Format 2. Thus you will notice on the title page that it says Young People's Library.

Also the Altemus copyright is on the title page. Although confusing, the copyright is not the date of publication even though it is on the title page.

Looking at the ad pages you have sent, a reasonable guess for date of publication would be 1912. With more ads I might be able come up with another date-but probably not much different.

Value is a tougher question. This book is relatively common. Nonetheless I have seen it sell for anywhere between $5 and $50.

The Altemus reprint Alice prices just seem to me to be unpredictable and not based on scarcity.


09 Feb 2012 143

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have a copy of Black Beauty published by Henry Altemus Company. Unfortunately, someone ripped out the copyright page so I have no idea about the history of it. Attached is a picture of the front of the book. Thanks for your time.

A:  This book was published in 1901-1902. It is part of the Petit Trianon Series.

For more information see ../series/series143.htm

It is an interesting book because of its cover. The artwork was done by Alphonse Mucha who was a famous Czech painter. This painting is called Lady with a Rose. You may wonder where the rose is. Well, when the Altemus artists modified the picture, they replaced the rose with a book. Artistic license I suppose.

For more about Mucha and Altemus see ../artists/artists-Mucha.htm

Unfortunately in this shape it only has nominal value.


07 Feb 2012 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you identify this book?...It was the Courtship of Miles Standish that is the Altemus book.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. See ../vademecum.htm. It is a 1907 publication.

The picture is #17 which is shown in the picture section on the page above. There are more than 40 pictures that Altemus used with this cover.

They were said to be European paintings. Unfortunately I have been unable to determine the original artists.

Most of the books in this series have very little value. The titles are not widely collected and the they are reprints.


06 Feb 2012 48

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I am very interested in obtaining more information on this book (A Christmas Carol). The copyright date is 1899. I did not find this book front format in your listed designs. Thank you very much.

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series. This publisher's series of reprints was printed between 1897 and 1902. During this time frame there were four different covers. Your cover was published between 1899 and 1901. I have seen five different colors with this decorative pattern.

As with all of this series' books, it is a reprint. Nonetheless, many Dickens' collectors are interested in these decorative books. Thus, the value would be quite unpredictable.


05 Feb 2012 179

Vademecum Series

Q:  I would like to get some more info on this book please (The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe).

A:  See ../series/series179.htm for more information.

This book is part of the Vademecum Series. This series includes various reprints of fiction, essays, poetry, etc.

Your book is a reprint and published in 1894-1895.

This book only has nominal value.


04 Feb 2012 69

Classics Series

Q:  Hello, I was given this book (Poe's Poems) and it has no date or anything, but it reads henry altemus company after a few blank pages. Curious about it. Thank you.

A:  You can find your book's format here: ../series/series69.htm

It is part of the 76 volume Classics Series. This series of reprints originally was published with a dust jacket.

This is a 1907-1908 book.

It only has nominal value.


19 Jan 2012 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I looked through the series numbers I saw you'd recommended for copies of The Scarlet Letter and didn't see any covers similar to this one (though I might have missed it). Might you be able to identify this copy? Just curious as to when it was published. The picture in the third photograph was copyrighted in 1899, so I know it was sometime after that.

A:  This cover format was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series. This series consisted of reprints of various works of fiction, poetry, essays, etc. Any one of more than forty paintings could possibly be seen within the gold gilt on the cover.

For all the different possibilities see ../vademecum.htm.


18 Jan 2012 202

Young People's Library Format 3

Q:  Hi. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this book (The Little Lame Prince). My grandma bought it at a garage sale, I believe.

A:  This book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 3.

See ../series/series202F3.htm

You can date the book by looking at the ads in the back and using the information on the page above. This format was published between 1902 and 1923. These books originally came with a dust jacket.

Because it is a reprint in poor shape, it has little value.


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