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:  I wonder when was this book of "Adventures of a Brownie" published? It belonged to my foster mother who was born in 1894. I looked at many sources without any luck. Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the publisher’s Vademecum Series and was printed in 1907. It is a reprint as are all of the titles in this series. The appliqué on the front cover is one of more than 40 possible pictures, many of which could be combined to make larger pictures. See: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

This format originally came within a labeled box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was researching an Altemus book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin) on this site, and believe it may be a listed (38 in the first series listed) example, but without a picture. As you can see, the cover is in poor condition, but the pages are all there, with the portrait (frontispiece) being the only detached page. Am I correct to conclude that this is a pre-1897 example? How rare is it? Can you give me any indication of value?

A:  Unfortunately you misidentified your book. It is actually part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1915.

It is pictured here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm. It originally came within a labeled box. See here.

It is a reprint. In great shape it might be worth a couple of dollars. In this condition it has no monetary value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  What can you tell me about the attached book (Emerson's Essays) – date of publication, series, value, etc. Thanks very much.

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

It it a reprint and was originally sold within a labeled box.

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

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi I have the book Line Upon Line, it appears to be very old. It has a copyright stamp of 1897 by Henry Altemus. Just wondering if you could tell me if it's worth anything? Or maybe you could direct me to someone that may know about this book.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900.

It originally was sold within a labeled box. It is a reprint.

This book is worth maybe a couple of dollars.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have this Black Beauty book it has written inside by the owner the date August 7, '05. And I'm 100% sure it's not 2005 as the book has been in my family as long as I can remember and I'm 80. After looking through your identifications I do not find the exact cover. There is no published date inside and the last pages are listings of publications. I think I'm safe in assuming the book has no monetary value as it appears that many and varied books were printed for all titles. But am curious as to its published date. It's a cute little book.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and is a reprint as are all of the Vademecum Series’ titles. It was published in 1905-1906. Four different flower patterns have been noted as appliqués’. This year’s books have been seen with various colors and originally came boxed. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I've been carrying this book around for years. Was wondering if was a collector item. House of the Seven Gables

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912. It is a reprint (as are all of the titles in this series) of a not very desirable title and thus has only nominal value.

It was originally released within a label box. An example is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Please give me any information regarding:
The Blithedale Romance (The Blithdale Romance, on the cover)
By Nathaniel Hawthorne
In great condition. Given as a gift in 1902.
What is worth? Thank you

A:  Your book is a reprint and was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series.

See: Vademecum Series for variant covers published during 1902.

This book only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a really old Cranford book with your name on the publishing part. Any value?

A:  Your book is a reprint published in 1907 as part of the Vademecum Series. In this shape it has no monetary value.

More than 40 different appliqué pictures have been seen within this front cover template.

The pictures (European oil paintings) in some instances can be combined to make up larger pictures.

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

Vademecum Series

Q:  Any information you can give me on this book would be useful. Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899.

All the titles in this series are reprints. Originally this book was sold within a labeled box.

This cover has been seen in a number of different colors. See here.

It has nominal monetary value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  This book belonged to my great grandfather. What is the current value, if any, as it is being passed on to family members? Greatly appreciated.
The Crucifixion of Philip Strong

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series.

This series contains a group of books, all unrelated, that are reprints. Each year or so Altemus would reprint these titles with a new decorative cover.

Your book was published in 1900. It originally came within a labeled box. It only has nominal value.