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.

Altemus Library

Q:  I have a small book called, Chesterfield's Letters? It is gray with a silver and red coat of arms on the front? On the edge of the book it says Altemus, and inside there is a script that says Letters, Sentences and Maxims - Lord Chesterfield Henry Altemus Philadelphia. Then there is a page that feels different from the other pages that has a picture of Philip, Earl of Chesterfield? It has a piece of what looks like onion cloth protecting that page? The next page says; Letters, Sentences, and Maxims by Lord Chesterfield, Philadelphia, Henry Altemus 1892. 302 pages. What can you tell me about this book?? Is it rare?? Is it of any value??

A:  I assume the book you are referring to is the one I have pictured below. It is part of the Altemus Library, a series published in the early 1890s. It is neither rare or valuable.
You never know what someone will find worth spending money on but if you get more than nominal value for this book, you should consider yourself fortunate.

Altemus Library (2)

Q:  We have this book (The House of the Seven Gables) and as you can see, it is in very good condition. Published in 1892. No dust cover. Can you give us any information regarding its value?

A:  Your book can be found here:
http://henryaltemus.com/series/series38.htm

It was published between 1913 and 1916.

The Altemus copyright refers to the first time Altemus published this title as a reprint in 1892.

It has only nominal value.

Banbury Cross Series

Q:  I have a copy of a book titled "Old Mother Hubbard" with added stories of Puss in Boots and A Frog He Would A-Wooing Go, By Henry Altemus, copyright, 1904. (46 Illustrations. I would be interested in information you may have about the book and if it has any value please.

A:  This ten volume series was published in 1904. These Fairy Tales' books all initially had dust jackets. Value is nominal without the jacket. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series44.htm for more information.

Banbury Cross Series

Q:  I have a book The History of Tom Thumb. To which are added the stories of The Cat And The Mouse and Fire! Fire! Burn Stick! with thirty-eight illustrations. Altemus Banbury Cross Series. I have found other books in this series that are dated the early 1900's but I cannot find anything on this book. Would I be correct in dating this book around that date? Thank you for your help.

A:  All 10 volumes of the Banbury Cross Series were initially published in 1904 (including your book which is #4 in the series). They were reprinted for a number of years thereafter. The earlier books have decorated endpapers. Later the endpapers were plain. Also initially the design on the left of the book was gold. Later it was green.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  My mother sent you the below image of a book we found recently in our basement. It belonged to my late Grandfather and we were just curious to see if you could help us determine if it has any substantial worth, or if it is just a neat collectors item. I will attach the images again for clarity. The info I have from the book is that it is titled Balzac's Short Stories. Published in Philadelphia - 1895. Any info helps, thanks for your time.

A:  Your book is part of the Series 47 Beauxarts Series. This series of reprints is not rare and most of the titles (including yours) have only nominal value.
For more information see http://henryaltemus.com/series/series47.htm.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  After attempting to identify one of my books on your website, I can see why so many people are mis-identifying their Altemus books. I would like to avoid that with your help, if possible. I am now totally confused. I have an Altemus hard cover, TWICE TOLD TALES, Nathanial Hawthorne, Henry Altemus Philadelphia, 6" x 4-1/4" x 1", dark blue cover, gold leaf floral design on cover, black & white illustrations. 4 blank pages precede the title page. Title & author name in red, framed by green flowing floral design surround with publisher & city on bottom ribbon. A Greek or Roman Head symbolic portrait at top of page. Another blank page & then a portrait of Hawthorne in black & white, opposite another title page framed in green floral motif, surrounding title, author & printer in red. Any help as to which series, year or set this belongs to would be greatly appreciated.

A:  This book belongs in the Beauxarts Series. http://henryaltemus.com/series/series47.htm This series published numerous reprints in the areas of the classics, fiction, poetry, etc.

Every year had a new cover. Your book dates from 1897.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I have a very old Representative Men by Ralph Waldo Emerson and am trying to verify the Henry Altemus printing date. The book is in excellent condition, but there is no copyright date printed. The only date shown is on the cover page, which simply shows “H.A.” on one side of the frame and “1842” on the other side of the frame. However I think that is the Altemus date and not specific to this volume. I know that Emerson wrote this in approximately 1850 and am wondering if I may have come across a 1st Edition?

A:  Your book (which is a reprint) was published as part of the Beauxarts Series (Series #47) in 1897 . This series was published between 1897 and 1902. It consisted of numerous reprinted titles of fiction and nonfiction by many different authors. At its peak it had 178 books. The books initially came boxed.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Can you help me identify this book? Can you tell me something of its value. Inside there is an inscription: "Florence Constance Kilbourn Xmas 1904 From Santa Claus Parkhill" that would be (Ontario, Canada).

A:  Your book was published as part of the Beauxarts Series between 1899-1901. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series48.htm.
It has only nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I'm looking for any information about this particular copy of this children's book and the author. My copy is in great shape, no pages missing, the cover spotted but in tact. I believe it to be my grandmother's, and I'm wanting to pass this along to my granddaughter for her birthday.

I find limited info about the author. The book has no publishing date, although I read that the original story was told about 1889, and no listing for the illustrator. Some internet data suggests with was published in Scribner, but we know better.

Any information you can provide will be appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1902. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series48.htm. This series is comprised of numerous reprints.

Altemus published this title in numerous formats. A number of publishers printed this book before Altemus. Scribner did do an early edition but in fairness I am not sure who did the first edition. It may have been Blackie in London in 1894.

I have no independent knowledge about the author but looked up her obituary which appeared in the New York Times in 1936. There is much more about her life in various online sources. Click here for the obituary.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Please find inclosed three attachments showing you my copy of Oliver W. Holmes' poems published 1902 by your company. On your web site your answer to an inquiry on 27 jun 2006 shows a different photo. My copy has a presentation dated 1902 from a Madeline Hmas to a cousin Olive From. It has 168 pages with a index of other publishcation. The poem Cambrige Churchyard is on page 13 as well. The book is in fairly good condition as the photos shows; but if there is anything else you could tell me about this edition I would appreciate the information including possible collectors value.

A:  This book is the 1900 version of the Beauxarts Series. This series had several different covers over its short publication run. The inquiry on June 27, 2006 shows a cover from this series that was published in 1897. There is no inconsistency. It has very little, if any, collector interest or value.