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 recently picked up a book and it seems to me that it is part of the Vademecum Series. It is Ralph Waldo Emerson's Essays Second Series. Just wanted to know the publishing year and perhaps any more info regarding the painter of the applique. Picture is attached.

A:  You have a 1907 book. See Vademecum Series for more information.

During the early 1900's there were several Vademecum Series formats that had parts of European paintings as paste-on's on the front covers. Your book's paste-on (appliqué) is part of a larger picture.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi - I don't know if your site is still maintained or not, but found this book recently and figured it couldn't hurt to ask you to identify it. Based on what I've read, I've only figured out that it was after 1900. It is the Courtship of Miles Standish.

Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1908. It originally came with a box. A representative sample of a box is shown here.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am looking to see if this book (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) has any value. Thank you!

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

It is a reprint and originally came within a labeled box. These 1901 publications have been seen with more than 40 different front cover paste-on paintings. Five different color 1901 books are known so far.

Unless an Alice in Wonderland collector has to have this format, the book has little value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Front cover and inside illustration The Scarlet Letter, printed 1900 (Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia), Vademecum Series. Your website shows this cover on 'Black Beauty'. What is value? Someone is selling same on ebay, item # 360563665636 for $1,499.95. Thanks for info.

A:  This book was published in 1900 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came within a labeled box. As with all the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

This is a book that sells, if at all, for a few dollars.

Anyone can list anything on EBay for any price. The trick is to sell, not just list, at the high price.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you help me pin point a year for this one (Lucile)? I have found similar, but not exact on your web site. Think I have narrowed down the dates from 1909 - 1926, but would like a more precise date if available. Photos attached. Thank you for any help you can give.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912. It originally came within a labeled red box.

This book as well as all the other books in this series is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Idylls of the King. Any help would be amazing. I can't find any title page giving copyright or anything. Thank you!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912.

Originally it came in a red labeled box.

At one time there was a paste-on (appliqué) on the bottom middle of the front cover. You can see what this looked like on the site.

Your book is a reprint and unfortunately has no value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I have a book (see attached pictures) and I am wondering how old it is. I think, from what I've read, it's about 1880. Fairy Land of Science, Author: Arabella B. Buckley

Any information you can provide would be appreciated.

No Inscription or publishing date

Last Entry in book is:
Publications of Henry Altemus Company (Heading)
..Baby's Requirements By Elisabeth R. Scovil. 16mo, 25c.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912. As with all of the books of this series, it is a reprint and since it is not a very collectible title, has only nominal value. It originally came in a red labeled box. An example of the box is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am trying to find the year this book was published and if this is the author's signature. and approximate value of this book (Natural Law in the Spiritual World). Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1902 as part of Vademecum Series. It originally came within a labeled box. Since Drummond died in 1897, it is not his signature. The title is common and the Altemus reprints have only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could give me some information on this particular book of poems by Edgar Allan Poe.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. It originally came with a labeled box. This title is a reprint and was published in numerous formats by Altemus and other publishers of the era. It has minimal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was trying to do some investigating about a book that I was given by my mother in 1968. It was given to her by a school teacher for Christmas in 1932. The book is Black Beauty. There is no copyright date other than by a photo inside that shows a date under the picture of a man and a black horse. That says Copyright 1899, by Henry Altemus. The cover is light blue with gold & burgandy flowers on the cover. The spine of the book is also decorated with the same gold & burgandy colors. The book measures 6.75" x 4.5". Attached is a photo that may help you help me. If this can be identified, do you also know the value. Is this something that should be insured?

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

During this year the covers have been seen in many different colors. These books originally came within a labeled box.