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.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  hi i just bought this (Black Beauty) at a used book store and was wondering if you good give me more information about it... it doesn't mention the year but i looked up the publisher so i know the years they were in business..thank you

A:  Your book is part of the La Belle Fleur Series and was published in 1901.

It originally came in a dust jacket. The books of this series are all reprints. They came in a number of different color covers. Examples are shown here.

It has nominal value only.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me a bit more information on this print of "A Wonder Book". It has some obvious imperfections on the cover (unfortunately) but in overall fair condition. I did some searching on your website and managed to locate this in the "La Belle Fleur Series". Is it a rare find?

A:  The books of the La Belle Fleur Series are all reprints and therefore are limited in value. The series is one of the more uncommon of the Altemus publisher's series however. It consisted of 131 volumes and was only published in 1901. Some of the titles are a little bit more collectible than others. i.e. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass.

The books all came with a dust jacket which duplicates the front cover. Various color covers were printed.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  I have taken the liberty of attaching very bad photos of a book left to me by an Aunt. The book is titled “Drummond's Addresses” and seems to have a copyright date of 1891. Any information you could offer me on this book would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1901 as part of the La Belle Fleur Series.

See ../series/series115.htm

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  hello, i have a little book by this publisher (Altemus.) It is "Evangeline and Other Poems." There is no date anywhere. The book is brown cloth with red tulips and greenery on the cover. There are several illustrations. Can you tell me anything about this beautiful little book? Thanks

A:  Your book was published in 1901 as part of the La Belle Fleur Series. This series consisted of 131 books which were reprints of various essays, poems, religious works and fiction. The books all had the same basic cover design but the colors varied.

It originally came with a dust jacket but these jackets are nearly impossible to find nowadays. It has little value although when it comes to buying books sometimes people are willing to pay more than a book is objectively worth.

Langhorne Series

Q:  Hi, we ran across this book (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) in an old box. I've been trying to identify it/figure out its worth, but would like some help if possible.

A:  Your book is part of the "Langhorne Series" and was published between 1914 and 1917. Originally its was sold within a fabled box.
For more info see: Langhorne Series 117
It is a reprint and, in my opinion, only has nominal value.

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.

Library of Standard Authors

Q:  I just purchased a book "House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, copyright 1892, by Henry Altemus. Bound in a decorative burgundy and green with red flowers, with gold highlights. I paid $20 at an estate sale. From what I can see on this web site, I overpaid. Any additional information would be appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1897 and is part of the Library of Standard Authors.

It is a reprint and has nominal value.

Library of Standard Authors

Q:  I have a copy of Paul and Virginia, I was told it published in 1890. There is no date of publication in the book. On page four there is an inscription that it is part of a series including
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass
Lucile
Paul and Virginia.”
The following page is the table of illustrations. The cover is below. Do you know publication date?

A:  Your book was published in 1897-1898. It is part of the ten volume Library of Standard Authors' Series. The books in this series have been seen in several different color covers.

Library of Standard Authors

Q:  Would like some information on this book Tales from Shakespeare. What can you tell me? Thanks.

A:  Your book was published in 1897-1898 as part of the ten volume Library of Standard Authors' Series. During those years the book covers were published in various colors.

All the books, including yours, are reprints. Value is determined by the collectibility of the title and condition. Your title is not widely sought after.

Library of Standard Authors

Q:  We have a Library of Standard Authors book called Tales of Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb. The book is depicted on your website at http://henryaltemus.com/series/series120.htm. It is the first cover on the left.

How do we determine if this book is a first edition?

A:  It is not a first edition. Altemus first published this book in 1892 in the Altemus Library Series. The actual first edition however was published in 1807. As a general rule all Altemus published works of fiction were reprints.