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.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  Hello. I was hoping you would be able to tell me a bit about some books I have. There are 3 and from what I gather based on your website, they are part of a collection of writings pub. by Altemus.

There is some water damage to one of the books and there is an inscription written on all three of the books by the owned and dated 1903.

A:  Henry Altemus published a 39 book series of Shakespeare's works beginning in 1899. The individual volumes are very common. The set initially came in a labeled box.

There were eight different formats during the publication history of the set.

Looking at your books it is clear they were published after 1900 since the imprint is Henry Altemus Company (and Altemus incorporated in 1900).

Beyond that the key distinguishing features for your books are whether the endpapers are plain or decorated and if the books are made of hard leather or limp leather.

The formats are clearly described at Shakespeare's Plays.

In regards to value, without the dust jackets or without a full a set in a box, the books only have nominal value.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  I have a set of Shakespeare, probably 20 or so mini books about 4 x 6 in a burgundy type cloth with a shield emblem on the cover.

There are no print dates. But each book is a work of Shakespeare. I found an exact copy on line on Ebay last evening. Taming of the Shrew they were asking $49 but really offered no information or origin (date or where printed) about the book. They are my grandparents and we are very interested to know about them. They are eldery late 80 and can't remember if their's or their parents. Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Thank you. i sent photo under separate email. thank you kindly.

A:  This series of 39 books is extremely common and the books only have nominal value. They are frequently listed for fairly high prices but seldom sell for more than a dollar or two a book.

Your books appear to have decorated end papers indicating that are pre-1905. They also were published by Henry Altemus Company telling us that they were published in 1900 or later. (Altemus incorporated in 1900). These book originally came with dust jackets.

For more information about this series see ../series/series164.htm.

Shakespeare's Plays Series

Q:  I have enclosed 2 pictures of the book in question (Julius Caesar). There is no ISBN or publishing date. I found you by looking up the publishing company. Any information you can give me about this book would be GREATLY appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the 39 volume Shakespeare's Plays Series.
See ../series/series164.htm

This particular volume was published sometime after 1900. There is nothing that distinguishes a 1900 book from a later book.

The books of this series are very common. Frequently in lots of 10-30 they sell for less than a dollar a copy if they sell at all.

Shakepeare's Plays

Q:  I have a format 3 complete series of William Shakespeare published by your company. I have all 39 books in perfect condition. I think they have just been sitting on a shelf and never opened until I looked inside tonight the binding is crisp and has that new book feeling. Can you tell me if these are rare, any approx. value, and where I might sell them.

A:  This set is quite common although they are not usually seen in great shape like yours.

When sets sell, most often they bring no more than a few dollars per book.

If you have the original labeled box, they are worth a lot more.

See Shakepeare's Plays for more details.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  I was looking around the homepage but someone had done such a good job, I just couldn't find out information about the book I have. I bought my favorite play "Macbeth" (Half priced books) and when I got home a realized there is no information about it. As I learned it should be published around 1890's but that's all I know. It is different than others... the picture before the title page is different and the letters on the title page are black and red...
Title says:

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
with The Historie of Macbeth
from Ralph Holinshed's chronicles of Scotland, 1577
Philadelphia Henry Altemus

There are no dates on the book. Has 192 pages. Thread binding.

I would be extremely happy if someone could help me out. And maybe let me know did I gain more than a great book.

A:  The Shakespeare's Plays Series included 33 books. It was published between 1899 and 1933. In 1899 the books listed Henry Altemus on the title page. Thereafter Henry Altemus Company was noted as the publisher. Thus, your book is an 1899 version. No real value but a nice book nonetheless.

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  I acquired a collection of Shakespeare plays that seam to be published by your company. These are small, almost pocket size books in very good condition and number 25 to the collection. I am trying to find as much information as I can to determine there value. Please help.

Q:  I recently came across 36 hardbound books with Philadelphia Henry Altemus company inside each one. There is no copyright or edition printed in any of the books. Each book is a play by William Shakespeare, starting with Coriolanus, King Richard, Romeo and Juliet, many King Henry plays plus more. Each start with an Introduction. Then the plays begin, stating the scenes and acts all through each one.
I'm curious to know about these books. They are very old. They are hard-bound with a dark reddish/burgundy'ish cover. When were they printed? Are there more of them?

Q:  I have an edition of "The First Part of King Henry IV" by William Shakespeare printed by your company but has no date of when printed. We would like to know the date printed.

A:  Your books are part of a 39 volume Shakespeare Series (#164) that originally came with dust jackets in a box. They were published between 1899 and 1926. Nothing however distinguishes the earlier from the later books except that the 1899 editions say Henry Altemus at the bottom of the title page rather than Henry Altemus Company as is on all of the post-1900 books. Assuming you do not possess the original box, they are quite common and have only nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  Hi I was wondering about this book the Three Musketeers and other stories someone wrote 1921 on inside cover any idea of age?

A:  Your book is part of the Classics Series/ Slip in the Pocket Series. Without the dust jacket it is impossible to exactly date this book. 1909-1915 would be approximate dates.
See: Slip in the Pocket Series

Slip in the Pocket Classics

Q:  This is a book that is in my wife's family, The Tent on the Beach. There is no copyright or any date for that matter. Can you help?

A:  Your book is part of the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series. It was published in the 1909-1915 time range.

Originally it was published with a dust jacket. An example is shown here.

Because this title is a reprint with little collector interest, it only has nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  I have a book titled “Friendship”, written by Henry David Thoreau, published by your company. The hardcover is green with gold inlay.

When was it published and is it of any value?

Please advise and thank you in advance.

A:  Your book is part of the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series.

It was published in the 1909-1912 range. It originally came with a dust jacket.

This is not a very collectible title and since all the Altemus copies of this title are reprints, your book only has nominal value.

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  I'm having a hard time locating information on this book (Othello). I was thinking about putting it on ebay, but I'm not sure what to price it since I can't find any details on it. Any help you can give would be welcomed. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of either the Slip-in-the-Pocket Classics Series or its direct 1908 predecessor- Classics Series. For the Classics Series see ../series/series69.htm See ../series/series166.htm for the Slip in the Pocket Series.

This book originally came with a dust jacket. Shown is a representative jacket. When this book sells, it is generally only for a few dollars.