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:  My husband found this book while cleaning. thought it was interesting. tried finding this book, I could only find the peter rabbit book that looks like this.
I did check other web sites and ebay, but nothing on this cover!! I took pictures of the cover, spine, inside cover, second page, title page, copy right page and back cover hope I didn’t take to many pictures, sorry if I did!! was curious.

A:  Your book is the Altemus first edition of Nursery Tales. It was published in 1904. Originally it came boxed.

For more information about your book see ../series/series185.htm and ../wee_books/index.htm.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  Hi, I was wondering if you could give me any information on the book THE FOOLISH FOX, 1904. I haven't been able to find any information about this book with the green cover.

A:  Your book is a second format book in the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. It was published between 1904 and 1911. It originally came with a dust jacket which matched the cover.
See ../wee_books/index.htm and ../series/series185.htm.

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.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Hi! Can you please tell me when this edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published?

A:  Your book can be found here: Peter Rabbit

It was published between 1908-1917. It is the second edition of the second format of the Tale of Peter Rabbit title published by Altemus.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I am wondering if you might be able to give me the approximate value of this book? The Night Before Christmas. Copyright is 1918 and it has a blank page on the inside cover indicating an early version.

A:  It is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.
This book is the earlier of the two formats of this title. It was published between 1918 and 1921. After that the red lettering was changed to black. Originally this volume came with a dust jacket.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  Hi there, I've recently come into possession of a copy of The Robber Kitten. I was wondering if you could perhaps date this publication for me, or at least help me narrow down the publication period for me. I don't really expect it will be worth all that much, simply because the dust jacket is so ratty, but I just kind of wanted to do some further research into the book for myself. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read my message.

A:  Your book is from Format 3 of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. Based on the listing of titles on the back of the jacket it is 1920 book.

Henry Altemus Company - Wee Books for Wee Folks (third format) 186

Value is hard to say. The dust jacket is in tough shape- maybe $20 or so.

Wee Books for Wee Folks (Platt and Munk reprints)

Q:  I am searching for a bit more information on books that were my Mother's when she was a child. I tried searching on Ebay and Biblio, but could only find a few books from varying series.

What I have:
All four Wee Books from Set No. 1. (Tale of Peter Rabbit, Peter Rabbit Went To Sea, Peter Rabbit at the Farm, Peter Rabbit's Christmas)
Two books from Set No. 7.
Two books from Set No. 8.
Four books from Set No. or Series No. 126.
And, one book entitled, 'Peter Rabbit and the Little Girl'.

Each book is in excellent condition. In fact, I'm not sure they've ever been read or looked through.

A:  These books are reprints of the original Altemus Wee Books for Wee Folks volumes. Altemus published these little books in several series between 1904 and 1933. Platt and Munk reprinted a number of titles in beginning in 1935. The reprints and the Altemus originals came with dust jackets. The reprints also came in labeled boxes. A Platt and Munk box is shown here.

For more information see: http://henryaltemus.com/reprints/platt.html

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  Hello, I have this copy of Little Black Sambo that I am trying to date. I am hoping you can help me. I've read your very thorough post, but as you can see my copy is different than the two samples you've shown on your site. I'd so appreciate any insight you can offer. Many thanks in advance.

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

Altemus first published this title in 1918. The copy without the dust jacket on the webpage was published between 1918 and 1920. The yellow cover lettering was noted in those years. Your copy was published between 1921 and 1934.

In order to date your book more precisely you need to look at the ads in the back of the book and at the endpapers. Dates for the endpapers are given here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/wee_books/index.htm.

If you need further help, let me know.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Good afternoon,
I have this books and I was wondering if it is worth anything?
The Little Puppy That Wanted to Know Too Much

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

Generally these books are desirable if they have dust jackets or are certain titles (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, Little Black Sambo).

Since your book is not a very collectible one and has no dust jacket, it has little monetary value.

The dust jacket is shown here.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Attached are photos of a Wee Book that I'm interested in selling - inside cover is blue in case it doesn't come through on the photo.
Can you give me some information. Alice Through the Looking Glass

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

The third format (this book) with the appliqué picture on the front cover includes all of the titles in the series. The dust jacket matched the front cover of the book. (shown here)

There were two Alice books. This one and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Both were published in 1926. The blue endpapers were noted between 1923 and 1926.

These are very collectible books and with a dust jacket could sell for as much as $100. Without, $10-50 is not unreasonable.

This book is much scarcer that the Young People's Library formats of the same title which are frequently listed for more than $100. (Although they seldom sell for more than a fraction of the listing price).