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.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  hello, i was on your website and because i was researching a book that i have. My aunt's mother in law was a school teacher back in the early 1900s and she had a Peter Rabbit book from back when she was a teacher. I'll send you a picture of it, any help figuring out what edition it is would be great!

A:  Take a look here: ../peter_rabbit/peterrabbit.htm

You can see your book pictured as a Second Edition (second format). The earlier second edition book has the same picture on the cover but is green. This book was first published between 1908 and 1912. It was reprinted until 1917 when the third Altemus edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I noticed you had someone else ask you a question about a Treasure Island book. I am hoping if I send you a picture of mine you could give me a little info on it. I cannot seem to find it. I have attached a picture of it.

A:  Your book can be see here (../series/series179.htm) with the 1896 books.

It is part of the Vademecum series which is made up of various reprints of classics, poetry, essays, etc.

The 1896 books can be found with a number of different cover colors.

It has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  These are the pictures of the book, The Queen of the Air. Thanks for your reply. There is no date of listed anywhere of its publication.

A:  Your book is an 1899 publication. It is part of the Vademecum Series. This series consisted of numerous reprints of essays, fiction, poetry, etc.

The covers of the 1899 books have been seen in a number of different colors.

See: ../series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi. I have acquired this book (The Blithedale Romance) and cannot seem to locate one like it via internet research. I am not a vintage book enthusiast so I may be overlooking some comprehensive internet resources that those of you who are involved in this field use routinely.

Mainly....I am trying to find information about rarity and value.....that is to say, I am trying to determine if this is something I want to save for my children....or post online someplace for hundreds of dollars....or put it in a Garage Sale for a buck.

The cover is embossed...or relief...or...well, don't really know the terminology but the lines of the text and graphics on the cover are recessed like grooves.

Any information and/or advice you might have would be appreciated.

A:  You can find your book with the other 1899 books here: ../series/series180.htm. It is part of the Vademecum Series which is a publisher's series of reprints of classics, essays, fiction, poetry, etc.

Unfortunately it has only nominal value since it is not a title that is widely collected. That plus the fact that it is a reprint means it has no significant value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have this book (Lalla Rookh). I have looked and looked. i eventually found your site but still have not been able to locate this. as far as i can tell it was published in 1895....mind you that this is the only date listed in the entire book. any info you could tell me would be much appreciated.

A:  You can find your book here Vademecum Series with the 1895 published books. It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello,

We found this book while cleaning. It is in good shape. Is it valuable? Evangeline by Longfellow

Thank you for looking at this.

A:  Information about your book can be found here: ../series/series141.htm

It is part of the Petit Trianon Series which is a series of reprints of fiction, essays, poetry, classics, etc. It was published in 1897.

During that year this series featured a book cover with a number of different floral patterns on the right of the cover but with a never changing dot pattern on the left.

This book originally came in a labeled box.

Unfortunately there is not very much collector interest in reprints of this title. It has only nominal value.

Favorite Series

Q:  An donation came to a local charity and I wish to possibly sell it for them. Another volunteer is also interested in it, but the charity needs a value for this book.....They have no Internet for this, so I'm volunteering my services..

One thing that was very interesting about the book is the great grandmother placed a letter inside it to give to her grandson and mentions that this was passed down through the years and she was giving it to him for Xmas. She mentioned it was a hard to find book and a valuable book. The story behind this was so sweet and it shows how some of today's youth really don't read the past history that much and treasure the past. Instead there is video games and other neat things in their life..It is a shame to not keep this old book, and he really didn't want it, so here it is at the donation site..I think that is one thing about the book more than anything was that letter and it's history and story behind the book.

Columbus and The Discovery of America..I wish to get a value on this book and where there is a good site to sell it. The only problem I see is the date page is detached, other than that it is in good condition. Any neat info would be appreciated also..I see the cover is different than what your web site pictured...

A:  Your book is part of the Favorite Series and was published between 1902-1910 (Format 2). ../series/series87.htm

Even in great condition this book is hard to sell. There just is not much interest in this title.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Attached is this cover of my book. Emerson's Essays. Is this a reprint? I'm still looking on your web site but thought this may be faster.

A:  Your book was published in 1896. It can be seen here: Vademecum Series

Gold Dust Series

Q:  Dear Expert! I have an old book "Gold Dust A Collection of Golden Counsels" that I received from my grandmother. It has a suede cover but no publishing date. Do you have any idea of it's age? Thanks...Mary

A:  Your book is part of the ten volume Gold Dust Series. (../series/series95.htm) This series of reprints was published between 1912 and 1918. This book originally all came in a labeled box.

Generally, these books have only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Would like to find more information regarding The House of the Seven Gables book that I own. Any help is appreciated. Thank you! Michelle

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series ( ../series/series179.htm ) and was published in 1898.

This series was very popular and consisted of various reprints of fiction, classics essays, poetry, etc. It originally was published with a labeled box. Because it is a common title, it has only nominal value.