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:  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.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you identify the publishing date for this "Black Beauty" book? Is there any value to it?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903. More than 40 different appliqués were used on the front cover of the books of this format.

These books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

This book is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me about this book? The Lays of Ancient Rome. No dates anywhere in the book, but other books are offered in the back from $.40 to $1.25. Thanks!

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

It is a reprint with nominal value.

It originally was sold with a labeled box. See here.