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.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Just found this in my dads old stuff he recently passed away. He has two but the other was a school book. I thought it would be neat to pass this to my children but there is not date of publish. Wasnt sure if i could find this out.
Thanks.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906. It originally came within a labeled box. See here.

All the titles in this series are reprints.

During this year the books in this series had four different flower appliqués on the covers which came in a number of different colors. The flowers are shown here.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a copy of Black Beauty and I think the cover print is wrong. So I can't find the date or possible value.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series.

I am not sure what you mean by a "wrong cover printing". I do not see anything out of place.

This book generally sells for less than $10- if it sells at all.

Vademecum Series

Q:  The book is Poe's Poems I have looked on line and can not find one with the same cover this one also has black and white illustrations in it can you please help. This book was printed by your company.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900.
It is a reprint as are all of the titles in this series. It originally came in a labeled box.
In 1900 the cover was published in a number of different colors.

It has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  First of all thank you for taking the time to read this email. While going through a few boxes a friend and I found a book amongst many. Looking inside we couldn't find any kind of copyright or any kind of information of the sort, only the publishing company.

I was hoping you would possibly be able to help us find out a little more information about the book. Milton's Poems

The book itself seems to be a lot of John Milton's earlier work. It's a fairly small book to today's standards. Only about 6.5x4.5 inches. Your help would be every much appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 and is part of the Vademecum Series.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series / European Artists and Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

It is a reprint and originally came within a labeled box.

Because it is not a very collectible title, it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello! I was wondering if you can provide any information about this book of John Milton's earlier poems such as what edition it is, its market value, and anything about its original publication. Milton's Poems

A:  Your book was published in 1901 as part of the Vademecum Series.

It is one of numerous reprints published in that era and has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Looking for info on this book, Allegories of the Heart, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Any info you can offer would be much appreciated. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906.

It originally came within a labeled box. An example is here.

It is a reprint with nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me a little more information about this book? Visits of Elizabeth. Looking at your site, I identified it as being in the Vademecum Series and probably published around 1901? I found the identical picture on the cover of Mulvaney Stories, shown as #35 and labeled as multiple rocks on hillside. Any other information you could give me, I would appreciate.

A:  You are correct. This book is part of the long running Vademecum Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints. The cover format changed every year or two. This cover is the 1901 cover. The appliqué is one of over forty possibilities.

For more information about these pictures see http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm.

Some examples of the 1901 cover are shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I am looking into a weird find! I bought this book and there is no way for me to tell how old it is, or how much it is worth! A Wonder Book. I can't find another like it! Can you help? I've attached some pictures to help you! Thank you in advance!

A:  Your book was published in 1907. It is part of the Vademecum Series and is a reprint.

It originally came within a box. See here.

Because it is not a very collectible title, it has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering if you could help me with this book. We received it as a donation to our church garage sale and I was trying to find out more information about it to help us put a price on it.

Here are some pictures.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904.

This title is a reprint.

It originally came in a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Unfortunately in this shape it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was hoping someone could provide me with some information on this book I found while cleaning out my grandmother’s attic. The Pilgrim's Progress

Here are some photos.

Is there a way to date this book? And find out what the value is?

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912. All the titles in this series are reprints.

This year’s books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

Your title is not especially collectible and is worth a couple of dollars.