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.

Young People's Library, Format 1

Q:  Rarity? Value? Thank you. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

A:  I am asked about the Altemus versions of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass frequently.

All of Altemus' formats are reprints and there are quite a number of them. All are described here: ../alice/alice.htm.

These titles are very collectible. The value of course is in the eyes of the beholder. Of interest is that the format that frequently sells (and is listed) for significant money is extremely common. That cover is from the Young People's Library Format 2 and 3. This book is listed with the copyright of 1897 but most copies advertised for sale were actually published in the teens.

The very common cover 1898-1923 version here

Your book is from the first format of the Young People's Library. It is scarcer than the book with the queen on the cover.

Young People's Library Format 1

Q:  A friend has a what seems to be a Late 1895 Edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. We are interested in the current value. Can you help her or suggest who can? Please see the attach photos.

A:  Your book is part of the first format of the Young People's Library. It was clearly published in 1895 as is noted at the base of the title page. The earlier 1895 books have a different list of books in the front advertisements. It list six books not eight as in the later 1895 ad (shown here).

There is no price guide and "experts on price" are suspect. I have seen this book sell for as much as $125 and for as little as $10 (in similar conditions). No rhyme or reason.

Young People's Library Format 4

Q:  Please place a value on my book (The Pilgrim's Progress). I have looked everywhere and can't seem to find pictures of the cover. There is no publishing date printed in the book? Images included. Thank you so very much!

A:  This book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 4 and was published between 1923 and 1933. A closer publication date could be determined by studying the ads in the back of the book. Two covers of this title have been seen in this format. The other cover is also shown here.

More information as well as pictures can be found here: Young People's Library, Format 4

This book originally came with a dust jacket.

It may sell for a few dollars.

Young People's Library

Q:  This book (Rip Van Winkle) has been in my possession for over 50 years, given to me by my Mother and I was wondering if it has any value, other than sentimental? Thank you for any information you can give me.

A:  This book is part of the Series 202 the Young People's Library, Format 3. Originally it had a dust jacket. This format was published between 1903 and 1923. All of the titles of this series were published originally with a dust jacket.

Unless the title has special significance to collectors, there is little value. Your book is in this category.

Of unrelated interest is the variant cover that has been noted. It is shown here. It is common for Altemus to vary some colors on the cover of a book that is published over many years.

Young People's Library

Q:  Hi can you send me information regarding the attached book (Grimm's Fairy Tales). The cover is not shown in your posting.

A:  The Young People's Library is a series of books for juveniles. There were four formats which are easily distinguished by their covers and spines. This book which has the appliqué on the front cover is part of Format 4. This format was published between 1923 and 1933. Because of this ten year span, these books are relatively common. The dust jacket matches the book's cover.

This cover as well as other pictures of the books in this series are shown here: ../series/series202F4.htm

Young People's Library

Q:  My father just passed away and I found this book (Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas) amongst his belongings and I was wondering about this book due to its age and the little research I did online about it. Can you shed some light on it?

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library. This series was published from 1895 to 1933. This book is part of Format 1 which was published between 1895 and 1898. Each format has a characteristic spine decoration. The Format 1 spine is shown here.
The Format 1 books with this title have been seen with two different cover illustrations and in several different colors. They are shown on the series page. The edition of your book can be determined by examining the ads in the front and the back and looking at the website information. ../series/series202F1.htm
The Format 1 books are slightly smaller (6.5 x 5) than the Format 2-4 books.

Young People's Library, Format 4

Q:  As per your information on your website, I assume this book is format 4, #63. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. What what this book be priced at? It is in excellent condition, however a name on the inside.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 4. This format was published between 1923 and 1933. The books all have a book appropriate appliqué on the cover. The dust jacket matches the cover of the book.

The books in this series only have nominal value unless a dust jacket is present or the book has a very collectible title, i.e. Alice in Wonderland.
Your book will be a hard sell for more than a few dollars.

Young People's Library

Q:  Hello, I have a copy of Black Beauty, and it appears to be in very good condition. I wanted to know what the value of it could be, plus the copyright on the title pages says it is 1897 but according to your web site, it appears to be published in 1906. Someone wrote 1906 on the first blank page inside the cover, so I'm unsure of the actual date.

Also, is something that would be worth selling?

A:  This book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 3. Format 3 books were published between 1902 and 1923. The format is determined by the characteristic spine.

Despite the copyright date, the fact that this book was published by Henry Altemus Company instantly indicates that it was published in 1900 or later since Altemus incorporated in 1900. Dating this book can be done relatively simply by following the dating flowchart which is on the series page.

Without the dust jacket it has minimal value.

Young People's Library Format 1

Q:  This book is from my husband's family- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 1895. No jacket. Probably from Format 1, and one of a set (which we don't have). Could you give us a value estimate?

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 1 and was published between 1895-1898. This is the first Altemus printing of this title. It has been seen in several different colors.

It is much rarer than the later Young People's Library Alice's even though the later ones are frequently touted as "rare and valuable".

The actual edition/year of your book can be easily determined by looking at the ads in the front and following the dating directions on the website.

For more information on the Altemus Alice's see ../alice/alice.htm

Young People's Library

Q:  I have been studying your website and wondered if you could tell me what you think the value is of the attached book (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland). From what I gather from your site, this is format 2, printed prior to 1900 because the copyright page (see next photo) says Frank Altemus, not Frank Altemus Company.

The spine is in tact, and the interior pages are in very good condition. I have seen 3 spots with pencil in the interior, which might be able to be erased. there is also what looks to be green crayon over the left heart on the cover.

The first few interior pages are slightly loose, but from other copies I've seen online, this is in reasonably good condition for the time period.

Thank you!

A:  This is a 2nd Format Young People's Library book published in 1898-1899.

The earlier (pre-1900) Young People's Library books are less common but that does not necessarily make them very valuable.

This book generally sells between $10-75 although it is frequently listed for a lot more. Easy to buy but hard to sell.

(Of note is that this reader promptly listed this book for sale on Ebay at $299. Suffice it to say, it did not sell. Even with a pristine dust jacket it is not worth close to her listing price)