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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I recently aquired the book The Scarlet Letter. It appears to be dated 1899 the cover is different than the ones you have listed can you tell me more of this book. There is no illustrations or pictures and says Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. This publisher's series of reprints changed its cover on a yearly basis. (../series/series143.htm).

Your book's cover was published in 1901-1902. During these years the lady on the left can be found with any one of sixteen flower pictures on the right.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I purchased this book at a thrift store and I am just curious to know a publishing date and whatever other info I could possibly find out about it. If you could help me out that would be fantastic. It is The Sketch Book by Washington Irving.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. This series is comprised of titles which are reprints of fiction, poetry, the classics, essays, etc. See: ../series/series143.htm.

All the books from this year originally came in a labeled box.

The pedestal on the left of the cover is characteristic of all the books in this series published in 1903-1904. The left side has been seen in pink, blue and beige. There is also a suede variant. Any one of sixteen different flower pictures is a possibility on the right half of the cover.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Would you have information on the attached three books (Blithedale Romance, Lady of the Lake, Charlotte Temple), such as year published and current selling price? I would appreciate your expertise.

A:  The books with the flower surrounded by acorns can be found here with the 1907 books. ../series/series143.htm. There are four possible flower patterns.

The book with the pedestal on the left and the carnation on the right can be found on the same page with the 1903-1904 books. Sixteen different flowers have been seen on the right half of the cover of this format.

All three books are part of the Petit Trianon Series. This is a series that included reprints of various works of fiction, poetry, essays, etc.

Generally if these books sell at all it is for nominal dollars.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was looking through your website for a book I found at a thrift store, and I could not find anything that matched it exactly. It is very similar to the 1901-1902 Mucha publisher's series, but the woman on the front is different. It is Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Snow Image and Other Twice Told Tales. I have included two pictures. I just thought is was a really pretty book to have for 5 dollars, and I am just curious of it's origins. There is no publishing date on it, thought it does have "Christmas Greetings" written in pen and ink with a date of 1902 on it.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. This series consisted of reprints of poetry, classics, essays, fiction, etc.

Your book can be found in the 1901-1902 books here: ../series/series143.htm

Also here is a little blog entry: ../about/updates5.htm#a10

Alphonse Mucha was the artist who painted this picture. It is called Poetry. This year's Petit Trianon books also included another Mucha illustration- Lady with Rose.

Your book cover is slightly different from the one in the database. See: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/images/S143_1901_v204.jpg

Petit Trianon

Q:  Recently, while moving things from a bedroom at my grandparents house due to damage from the storms in April 2011, I ran across a book (image attached) by your company. As I have a small collection of antique books, I tried to look this one up, but have been unsuccessful at finding it online. It is listed on your website, but any search for it turns up nothing. The binding is somewhat faded, and the spine and back cover have minor water damage, which appears to be quite old. The title (if not readable in the photo) is "Poe's Poems". There is no copyright page in the book, which has complicated my search. I would like to know the publication date of the book, and if possible, how many were printed in this edition.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902. See: ../series/series143.htm.

There is no record of how many were published.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering if you could help me put a publication date to this book? I cannot find a similar copy online. It is The Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam published by Henry Altemus Company. I believe it is sometime around 1900. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. Cover scan attached.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902. It is a publisher's series and consisted of reprints of poetry, classics, fiction, etc.

See ../series/series143.htm

The picture on the right was done by the artist Alphonse Mucha.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have the Emerson Essays - second edition - dated 1899

I've looked through your site and not able to find a value for it, any help you could give would be appreciated.

A:  Your book can be found here: Petit Trianon Series It was published in 1899 and is a reprint. There are no book values listed on the site.

Although I can give you a rough idea of what this book has sold for over the past 10 years or so, frequently the prices paid are so unpredictable that my opinion is rather meaningless.

But regardless of that, in my opinion your book only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  i am looking for the value of Uncle Tom's Cabin published in Philadelphia by Henry Altemus Company. It is not dated and in good condition. I have done several searches but cannot find this book with the cover i have. Thank you for any information you may offer.

A:  Your book can be found with the 1907 Petit Trianon books. See ../series/series143.htm. These books originally came within a labeled box.

There are a lot of collectors who are interested in the various reprints of this title.

Probably you would get between $10-30.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello. I found this book (The Scarlet Letter) while cleaning out my recently deceased great aunt's house. The cover is not in the best of shape but the inside is perfect other than a natural discoloration of the pages. I was wondering if you could tell me about it as I could not find it on your site. Any information about it or its worth would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book can be found here Petit Trianon Series with the 1905-1906 books.

In average shape without the original box it has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you please tell me the publishing date of this version of The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Longfellow, how many copies were printed, the price of the copy at the time, and anything else that might be interesting?

A:  For information about your book see ../series/series143.htm

I do not know how many copies were printed. It cost 50 cents when new and came with a labeled box.

It has only nominal value.