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.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  YES, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW OLD THIS BOOK (ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND) IS AND MAYBE THE WORTH. IT WAS GIVEN TO MY GRANDMOTHER IN 1902 AS AN AWARD. NOW I HAVE IT. THANKS FOR ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME.

A:  Your book is part of this series Boys and Girls Classics.

It was published between 1899-1902.

The website page above can help you date it exactly.

This book originally came in a labeled box. The Young People's Library version of Alice is much more commonly seen and generally costs more. But this book is the rarer of the two formats and in my opinion has a much more elegant cover. The cover was designed by the Decorative Designers firm.

It appears to be in nice shape and probably would sell between $10-40.

Boys and Girls Classics (old)

Q:  Hello, I have a copy of a Henry Altemus Alice in Wonderland through the looking glass. I was trying to estimate how old it was out of curiosity. I was unable to find it through your website, except as a picture on the home page. It has the walrus and the carpenter on the cover. Any information would be grand.

A:  This book is part of the 40 book Boys and Girls Classics Series. The books of this series all have the same basic front cover design with different pictures. Some have gold gilt patterns within the laterally placed rectangles.
The date of an individual book can be worked out by studying the ads. This is explained at Series 58 in detail.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I have a book inherited from my mother, Henry Altemus Company's book of Rip Van Winkle by Irving. It's not listed on your web site and there's no date. I was wondering if you have any information

A:  This cover design was used in two different series. The first was Series #58- The Boys and Girls Classics. This series was published between 1900 and 1906 and consisted of 40 books. The other series was The Boys and Girls Own Library (#59) which was published in 1909-1910 and had 39 books. The date of your book can be determined by looking at the ads in the back and dating the books listed.

These books are not uncommon but the cover is quite nice and depending on the title there may be a little collector interest.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I have a Harraden text with no copyright date. I wonder if you could tell me when this Things Will Take a Turn was published. I'd like to sell it and don't know what to charge;

A:  This cover format was found in two different series. The earlier -Series #58- Boys and Girls Classics (old) was published from 1900-1906. The earlier books in this series had a gold gilt decorative pattern as is seen in the picture. By 1902the gold gilt was deleted. In 1909 the series Boys and Girls Own Library (Series #59) was published using the same cover pattern. The books originally were boxed. Distinguishing between the series can be done by an examination of the back ads.

Boys and Girls Own Library

Q:  I recently acquired this copy (attached) of "Twice Told Tales" by Nathaniel Hawthorne and am having some difficulty determining any dates of publication or printing. I would appreciate any insights you can offer.

A:  This book is part of the Boys and Girls Own Library. It was published in 1909-1910.
See Boys and Girls Own Library

Boys and Girls Own Library

Q:  Could you please help me with some information concerning this book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin)? I would like to know the publishing date and value. Thank you,

A:  Your book belongs to one of two series. Both of these series have very similar covers but the lettering of Series 59 (../series/series59.htm) is brownish (like your book) whereas the lettering on the covers of Series 58 books (../series/series58.htm) is gold.

So I think your book belongs to the later series (#59). Series 59 advertises the Little Men and Women Series in the back ads.

If you are unsure, let me know. I can easily date your book if I know what ads are in the back.

("Yes, I do find the ad for Little Men and Women.") --With this information the date of this book is 1909-1910.

Children of the Bible Series

Q:  Hello there! Thank you for your valuable time! I have a book that is identified in the list of Altemus Illustrated Children of the Bible Series. Copyright 1905 by Henry Altemus Printed in the United States. (The Boy Who Obeyed). The Story of Isaac by J.H. Willard. On one page it says Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. On the next page it says Copyright, 1905 By Henry Altemus. It is a hard back cover. The picture of this book is in the list on the web site listed as Format # 5 , volume # 1. It has no dust cover sort of speak. It just has the hard back cover identical to Format #5, volume #1. Please email me back with any information you can give me on this nice book. Any idea what it maybe worth, or where one can possibly sell it.

A:  This ten book series was quite popular during its production run. There were five formats all of which came with dust jackets. Presently however these books are not hard to find and not very collectible and thus have minimal value.

For more information see Children of the Bible Series

Children of the Bible Series

Q:  I have a copy of the Children of the Bible series The Boy Who Would Be King. The date of Copyright is 1905. I have included a copy of the cover from your website and wondered what it would be worth. It is in relatively good condition - there is a small tear on the bottom right corner, but all pages are there with no rips, or writing.

A:  The books of this series are not in very high demand. Without a dust jacket this title has only nominal value.

Children's Gift Series

Q:  I looked on your website to see what book I have and the front cover is not the same of any other Robinson Crusoe cover you show on your website. Just wondering how I can find out more about the book I got through my family. See attached image of book cover. Each page has a fancy light blue border with black printed font.

A:  I believe the book picture you have sent is exactly like the one here: ../series/series64.htm.

This series of ten books all originally came with dust jackets and in nice condition are very collectible.

Children's Gift Series

Q:  Howdy,
I just found an old Altemus book: Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll. It's got a different cover from the ones I could find on your website and doesn't seem to be part of a "young people's library" based on the lack of spine decoration. It's dated 1897, but obviously might not be from that early. It has four color plates and numerous Tenniel illustrations. (Color do not seem to be Tenniel.) No Tweedle Dee and Dum on the cover - rather it's the queens and Alice.

Any idea what series this is from? Or what year it was published?

A:  What applies to Alice applies to Through the Looking Glass. This answer was given as a response previously.

False description of Alice in Wonderland book on Ebay

I received two questions about a particular book up for auction on Ebay. The price was going through the roof but the description of the book was totally inaccurate.

Regarding Alice in Wonderland 1897 'rare' edition

That is the sale I am interested in, and rather relieved to hear you say that it is not all it is cracked up to be. I'm just beginning my foray into antique books, having purchased a few as gifts for friends and such, I've become quite fond of collectors items. You mentioned certain statements in the description that were inaccurate, and I was curious as to what these are. I am tremendously interested in eventually getting my hands on a copy of Alice in Wonderland but, as you have pointed out, there are a lot of people out there willing to pay far too much, and I'd rather learn it before burning 2-3 times the value of the book. Any information you can provide is deeply appreciated.

I became the highest bidder and came across your review on a site with a reference to your email to explain further some incorrections in the description? please elaborate for me as i do not want any ill bidding or buyers remorse and would appreciate your expertise.

A: First. Since Henry Altemus incorporated in 1900 to become Henry Altemus Company, any book with the imprint Henry Altemus Company has to be published in 1900 or later. You will see on one of the pictures that this is the case.

The copyright of this book comes from an 1897 edition that Altemus did publish. Altemus published this title in a myriad of formats-most all were actually published prior to this edition.

Go to my website-henryaltemus.com and put Alice in the Title Search to see all of the many formats.

This book is part of either Series #64 or #200 (they are the same series except for a name change). See: ../series/series200.htm and ../series/series64.htm.
These books were published between 1912 and 1920.

This book is not the "rare" Altemus first edition although I have to say that even if it were, it would not command this type of money.

The first Altemus editions actually were published in 1895. See ../series/series202F1.htm

This book (or one just like it) had been on Ebay for several years. The description at that time was very similar to this description. Whether this is the same seller or someone just using that description is unclear to me.

I certainly do not know everything but I have studied Altemus and its books for many years and maintain the website about Altemus.

I wrote an article last year about the Altemus "Alices" for the Lewis Carroll newsletter.

This is a nice book but its description is incorrect. In my opinion it is not worth near the present bid price. But I guess if a buyer pays this kind of money, it is worth the price to him/her.