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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.

 

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Questions & Answers
Date Series Num Information
16 Apr 2011 202

Young People's Library, Format 4

Q:  Ten days ago, I came across a Henry Altemus Company book without a publishing date and doing my usual daily research, I came across your website and was able to roughly match my book with an image of the cover of another book, thus giving me a nice estimate for a publishing year, around 1907.

Today's book, I'm afraid, has no date and I can find no matching cover style on your site so far. Fortunately, there is an inscription inside the front cover dated Christmas 1924, but I was hoping to match a cover style as well to make that a more concrete date, if possible.

The book is 'A Child's Garden of Verses' by Robert Louis Stevenson. I have attached my images of the day for the book and I apologize that there isn't a direct shot of the cover, but I think you might be able to get a general idea just the same. My question to you is, does this look like it could be from around 1924? Or do you perhaps recognize that style of cover as another particular year?

I don't expect much, but thought I would drop a line and check with you.


A:  Your book appears to be from the Young People's Library Format 4 (see: ../series/series202F4.htm) which was published for the first time in 1923. Thus based on the inscription in your picture the book probably is either a 1923 or 1924 book.

I looked at your slideshow. Very nice. If you have other questions regarding dating books, I can try to help. I have an extensive reference library for this sort of thing.

For dating issues the place to start is generally the title page.


15 Apr 2011 179

Vademecum Series

Q:  Today, your expert book assessments and email address were discovered on the "allexperts.com" website. On that website your comments addressing inquiries pertaining to old copies of the "House of Seven Gables" book are exhibited. In at least one response, you mentioned that your assessment could be more accurate if the inquirer sent you a picture of their copy of the "House of Seven Gables" book.

Here (attached) are some pictures of our copy of an old "House of Seven Gables" book. Would you mind telling us the year that Henry Altemus published this particular copy and what the typical market value of this book is? Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.


A:  This book was published in 1897. It is part of the Vademecum Series.( ../series/series179.htm)

This series is made up of reprints of fiction, classics, poetry essays, etc. Except for a few of the titles which are collectable, the books of this series have no significant value.

Generally speaking because this book is a reprint of a not very collectible title, it will not sell for more than a few dollars.


14 Apr 2011 131

Mother Goose Series

Q:  Hello,
This book doesn’t appear in your database. I am hoping that you might be able to give me some information on it.
Thank you for your time.


A:  Actually this book is in the database.

See ../series/series131.htm for more information.

It is Format 3 #4 on the page above. It originally came with a dust jacket which had the same picture on it as the cover of the book.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.


13 Apr 2011 202

Young People's Library-Format 1

Q:  Hello, I have a Gulliver's Travels published by Altemus, Philadelphia from the Altemus' Young People's Library, date of publication: "Copyright 1896 by Henry Altemus". The price printed on it is 50 cents. It has 55 illustrations. Could you kindly tell me what this book is worth approximately, if anything?

I've included a jpeg - it happens to be accompanied by my Dr. Dolittle book, which is not published by Altemus.
I appreciate your help.


A:  Your book which can be found here ../series/series202F1.htm is not uncommon. There is a flowchart on that page to help you determine which Altemus edition it is and when between 1896 and 1898 it was published.

Clearly your copy is in excellent shape. Unfortunately there is not a lot of interest in this edition. I would think $10-20 would be on the high side.

Of course, you never know when someone just has to have a certain book.


12 Apr 2011 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was wondering if you recognize this book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin) and could perhaps tell me what year it was published. It does say Henry Altemus Company, but no location other than Philadelphia.

A:  Your book can be found here: ../series/series180.htm.

It is part of the Vademecum Publisher's Series.

It was published in 1905-1906. During this year this format had four different flower patterns and several different cover colors.


11 Apr 2011 143

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have the Emerson Essays - second edition - dated 1899

I've looked through your site and not able to find a value for it, any help you could give would be appreciated.


A:  Your book can be found here: Petit Trianon Series It was published in 1899 and is a reprint. There are no book values listed on the site.

Although I can give you a rough idea of what this book has sold for over the past 10 years or so, frequently the prices paid are so unpredictable that my opinion is rather meaningless.

But regardless of that, in my opinion your book only has nominal value.


10 Apr 2011 198

Wyncote Series

Q:  Each Christmas as I get this book out (A Christmas Carol) I try to find some information about it. My guess is it is from 1910 because of the illustrations but I am not sure. If I missed any information on your site, I apologize. Sometimes all that information is overwhelming to someone not used to working through all of the headings. I send this with the hope that you can tell me more about this book.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,


A:  Your book can be found here: Wyncote Series. It was published in 1927.

The books of this series have a number of possible small symbols on the lower right of the cover.

Here is a picture of the dust jacket that originally went with your book.


08 Mar 2011 143

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  i am looking for the value of Uncle Tom's Cabin published in Philadelphia by Henry Altemus Company. It is not dated and in good condition. I have done several searches but cannot find this book with the cover i have. Thank you for any information you may offer.

A:  Your book can be found with the 1907 Petit Trianon books. See ../series/series143.htm. These books originally came within a labeled box.

There are a lot of collectors who are interested in the various reprints of this title.

Probably you would get between $10-30.


07 Mar 2011 127

Love and Friendship Series

Q:  i've had this book since 1975. the title is "laddie" copyrighted in 1897 by henry altemus. i was wondering about the history of the book. also wondering what a book like that is worth.

A:  Your book can be found here: ../series/series127.htm

This series of 33 books originally came with dust jackets. There are five different formats that evolved over the 11 year publication history (1901-1912).

Since it is a reprint of a not very collectible title without the original dust jacket, it only has nominal value.


06 Mar 2011 188

Wee Folks Cinderella Series

Q:  I am wanting to learn more about this book (Jack and the Bean-Stalk), published as stated by the Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia. I've looked around on your site, but can't find this particular book. I appreciate any information you can provide. Thank you!

A:  Your book can be found here: ../series/series188.htm

The ten books of this series-Wee Folks Cinderella Series- have the same format as the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

This series' little books are all fairy tales.

Without the dust jacket it has nominal value.


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