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:  Hi, I came across this book (Poems) and I am curious about its history. I can't seem to find a copyright in the book. Is it a rare book and do you know if it has any value? Thank you.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. All of the titles in this series are reprints and only very collectible ones have any value.

This book only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi there,
Would you be able to identify this book, please? I couldn’t find it in any edition on your web site. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
Kind regards

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1908.

It is a reprint as are all of the titles in this long running publisher's series.

It originally came within a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Would like to know it’s value. Song of Hiawatha

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. This long running publisher's series consisted only of reprints. Each year or so the titles in the series were changed as was the cover format of the books.

Your book is from 1902. There were more than 40 different appliqué paintings that appeared on the cover that year.

Since it is a reprint and the title is not widely collected, your book only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Tom Brown's School Days. Approx. 4.25 x 6.25 inches. No publishing date is noted. Do you know when it was published? The frontispiece shows a sketch of four boys, one is lying on his face. Thanks for any help.

A:  This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series.

During this year the books were sold within a labeled box. See here.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  How valuable is my book? Plain Tales From the Hills

A:  This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. This publisher's Series consisted of reprints only. During this publication year the books were printed with various color covers. Some examples are shown here. Originally these volumes are boxed.

This title is not a very collectible one and therefore has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I received this very old book from a distant relative, it belonged to her Mother, I do believe this book is at least 100 years old. The lady that gave it to me is now 84, so I know it is old. The inside cover says Evangeline a Tale of Acadie and other Poems by Henry W Longfellow, Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia, the binding is loose, but all the pages are present., easy to read. Any idea on a date or value, it if is of value I may just sell it and give her the money, she could use it.

A:  This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. It is a reprint. Originally it was published within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

It has no value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I've found this book (J. Cole) & not finding it on your site. I would love to have more information on it, at least a date. I'd be grateful for any information you can give though.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900. It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

In 1900 his format was published in a number of different color covers. Some are shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me what this book might be worth?

The Last Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb
Published by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia
Copyright 1899

A picture of the cover is attached. The book is in very good condition.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. It is a reprint as are all of the titles of this series. During 1901 these volumes' covers were published in a number of different colors with more than 40 different appliqué pictures being possible. They were sold within a labeled box.

Since your book is a reprint of a not very collectible title, it only has nominal value.

Some books from this series are shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you identify this book? Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

A:  This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904. As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

In 1904 this cover was published in a number of colors. In addition four different appliqué flower pictures were used. It originally was sold within a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  To whom it may concern,
I recently lost my Mother and found this Lucile in her belongings with a handwritten enscription of 1904. Any information would be so helpful.

A:  This book was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series.

All of the books in this series are reprints. In 1902 these volumes were published in a number of different colors with more than 40 appliqué pictures possible for the front cover.

Some examples are shown here.