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:  Hello, I stumbled on your great website while trying to research a book I have: "Tales From Shakspeare" Charles and Mary Lamb Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia. I can't find any date other than the preface and after reading your comments I don't want to assume the 1878 is the correct printing date. Photo is attached. Book is small (4-1/4 x 6-1/4)
Any information would be most appreciated.
Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1907 and is part of the Vademecum Series. See ../series/series180.htm.

It originally came in a labeled slipcase box. All the books in this series are reprints.

You are correct to question the 1878 date. Frequently Altemus reprinted older editions of titles in their entirety. So earlier prefaces and copyrights are included in the later Altemus editions.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found this email online as I was trying to find info on a book I have. A Wonder Book, 1899. I'm having a heck of a time finding info on what I have.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900. This series consisted of reprints of essays, fiction, classics, poetry, etc. It was published between 1894 and the 1920's. Every year or so the cover design was changed. Your cover was used in 1900. The 1900 books came in a labeled slipcase box.

The 1900 books had one basic cover pattern in a number of different colors. I am including other color covers for your interest.

For more information see ../series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  I would like to know what you can tell me about this publication by the Henry Altemus Company, Illustrated Vademecum Series. It was a gift to my grandmother in 1904.

A:  Your book (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906. During these two years the book covers were published in a number of different colors. Four different paste-on flower pictures were used. (Your picture is an iris.)

See ../series/series180.htm

This book originally came in a labeled box. It is a reprint as are all of the books from this series.

Vademecum Series

Q:  This book was in my Grandfather's book collection. Could you tell me a little about it? It's missing the copyright page, but has the Altemus Publishing Company page inside the book. It's Uncle Tom's Cabin. Thanks so much.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907. Originally it came within a labeled box. These books came in multiple colors and any one of more than 40 possible paste-on pictures have been seen on the cover.

All of the books from this series are reprints and thus for the most part have little value. Some volumes such as Alice in Wonderland are worth a bit more because of the significance of the title.

For more information see ../vademecum.htm.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I have a book (Undine) of my recently deceased grandma and was wondering how rare or if its worth any money. It says copyright 1899 on it and I have attached pictures of the cover etc. The cover is blue with gold print. It has illustrations and some are in color.

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. See ../vademecum.

It is a reprint and thus has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  We just stumbled upon this book (Walden) and thought maybe it could be worth something. It appears to be complete and in pretty good condition with the exception of one loose page. Can you tell us more about it and maybe a possible value?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912. Originally it came within a red labeled box.

For more on this series see ../series/series180.htm

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

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you identify this book?...It was the Courtship of Miles Standish that is the Altemus book.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. See ../vademecum.htm. It is a 1907 publication.

The picture is #17 which is shown in the picture section on the page above. There are more than 40 pictures that Altemus used with this cover.

They were said to be European paintings. Unfortunately I have been unable to determine the original artists.

Most of the books in this series have very little value. The titles are not widely collected and the they are reprints.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I looked through the series numbers I saw you'd recommended for copies of The Scarlet Letter and didn't see any covers similar to this one (though I might have missed it). Might you be able to identify this copy? Just curious as to when it was published. The picture in the third photograph was copyrighted in 1899, so I know it was sometime after that.

A:  This cover format was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series. This series consisted of reprints of various works of fiction, poetry, essays, etc. Any one of more than forty paintings could possibly be seen within the gold gilt on the cover.

For all the different possibilities see ../vademecum.htm.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a copy of this book and can't find a picture of it on your site or on ebay or amazon. The book is approximately 4 x 6 and appears the be leather bound. It is a greenish maybe teal color cover it has a small picture in the center with a three story maybe store front with a awning over one door or window. It does not have a copy write date in it. The third page is a picture it reads at bottom see page 15. the next page is green and red top-John Bunyan middle-The Pilgrim's Progress bottom-Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. Any idea how I can find out the value I can't find anything to compare it to.

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

In 1907, the Vademecum Series had the cover pattern of your book with one of more than forty possible pictures within the cover decoration.

If you look at the Vademecum site (../vademecum.htm), you will see that your book's picture is #9 and the book cover is shown as a 1907 cover.

Because this title is a reprint and your book is in poor shape, it probably has no value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was trying to figure out the value of a book and was searching by title and publisher and came across your website. Here is a picture of the cover. I did see an almost identical cover of a different title but I didn't see anything about The House of the Seven Gables. I would like to sell this book but I have no idea how to figure out its value. There are no dates listed in the book so I am not sure when it is published. Anything you can tell me about this book, including any tips on selling books, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series. See ../vademecum.htm and ../series/series180.htm.

This series consists of reprints only. In 1903 there were a number of different cover colors and more than forty different paintings used as appliques on the cover.

It only has nominal value.