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:  To whom it may concern: What can you tell me about this book (The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin)? Is it part of a series? When was the first edition published? How is that indicated? How many copies were printed?

A:  Your book was published in 1895 as part of the Vademecum Series. See: ../series/series179.htm

The Altemus edition is a reprint. I am unaware of how many copies Altemus published but this book is fairly common.

Altemus Library (2)

Q:  I just purchased this version of the A Christmas Carol. Would appreciate anything you can tell me about it: date published, illustrator, etc.

I have been collecting The Carol for my three children for over 30 years and was very excited to get this edition and learn that Altemus published many versions of The Carol.

Which was the most beautiful edition that Altemus published? Any photos of that edition?

A:  Your version can be found here: ../series/series38.htm

This format originally had a dust jacket which matched the book.

Most of the Altemus Carol's are nice but nothing unbelievable.

There are literally hundreds of different covers.

For a look, see: ../search/titlesearch.php?q=christmas+Carol&Submit=Go

If I was picking one I would go with either this one ../series/series65.htm because it had a nice piece of holly attached to it and it came in a nice floral box or this one ../series/series58.htm

This title was published in many of the publisher's series and they had interesting different covers every year. Look at the series' pictures when using the index.

Virtually every Altemus version of the "Carol" has a representative cover picture on the site.

henryaltemus.com

Q:  I would appreciate your help with a book I have "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. The book measures 4 1/4 X 5 1/2. I am stumped because it does not have Henry Altemus Company embossed on the cover; as I have seen in all the examples on your website. The cover is green. Could this be part of Dickens Complete Works - a reprint. Thank you.

A:  The words "HenryAltemus.com" are not actually on the books. Those words are placed on the pictures of books that appear on the website so that people will know where the pictures came from.

Diplome D'Honneur Series

Q:  Hi my name is Amber and I recently purchased this book from a flea market. The cover says "Endymion" and the title page says "Endymion, and other poems." Unfortunately, the first 12 pages are missing. I would like to know the year in which this book was published. Thank You.

A:  Your book is part of the Diplome L'Honneur Series and was published in 1902. This series was only published for one year and the books are somewhat uncommon. See: ../series/series76.htm.

Boys and Girls Classics (New)

Q:  This book (The Little Lame Prince) belonged to my grandfather. He was born in 1913. I took a look at your site, and I couldn't find anything that looked quite like it. Could you tell me anything about it? Inside Title page says copyright 1900, but as your site suggest, it may have been published after that.

A:  Your book is part of Series 57 Boys and Girls Classics (New) Series. See ../series/series57.htm

This series used various pictorial linen cloths for its covers. Your cover has been designated sw-5a and was published sometime between 1908 and the early teens. The exact year can be determined by a study of the ads.

The dating confusion exists because the original Altemus copyright is on the title page. The copyright is not the same as the date of publication in this instance. Also this series used the text from the Young People's Library and thus the title page says the book is from the Young People's Library. This is not the case however.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Good Afternoon, I would like to know what the publication date is for this volume of The Courtship of Miles Standish And Other Poems – Illustrated. Thank you for your assistance.

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. The picture pasted on the front cover is one of more than forty that was used by Altemus with this cover design. See ../vademecum.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have the book "The Merchant of Venice" published by Henry Altemus Company. No dates are give in the book and all the pages are intact. I've enclosed pictures. Do you have information on the publication date and if it is one of the Shakespeare series?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900.

See: ../series/series180.htm

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello,
I recently purchased Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. It is a Henry Altemus publication, Images of the book's front cover, inside cover and some back pages are attached. However the title page is missing, so I do not know the publication date. Would you be able to help out with this missing info.

A:  Your book was published between 1899-1901 as part of the Beauxarts Series.

See ../series/series48.htm.

Langhorne Series

Q:  Can you possibly date and give a possible value to these two books? One measures measures 3 3/4" x 6 1/8" and is a soft sueded leather in reddish brown hue. The other seems to be a grayish fabric, measuring about 5" x 7 1/2" and has no publishing information but is by Edward Fitzgerald. I was given these by a deceased family member and know absolutely nothing about old books.Thanks for your consideration.

A:  The Altemus book was published between 1914 and 1917. See Langhorne Series

Without the original box the value is probably worth between $5-15.

I cannot tell you anything about the other book. Sorry.

Altemus Library

Q:  Hello, I stumbled upon your website trying to find information about a book I have acquired. It is "Tales from Shakespeare" by Charles and Mary Lamb. The only date I can find is 1894. I might be looking to sell it. Do you have any information or know if it is worth anything? I have attached photos.

A:  Your book is part of the Altemus Library. See ../series/series37.htm It originally came with a dust jacket.

Unfortunately in poor condition it really has only nominal, if any, value.