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 have attached a photo of a book - Allegories of the Heart - that was presented to my Grandfather in 1903. Can you tell me the approximate publication date?

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

See ../series/series180.htm

This series of reprints generally changed covers every year or two. During 1902 there were a number of different possible cover colors. In addition there were more than forty paintings seen within the front cover design.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I would like some information about my copy of the book, Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson (picture below and attached). It was published by the Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia, but no date is given. The cover is green cloth with elaborate embossed designs that may once have been gilded. The picture on the cover is faded, but may have been a pirate ship. The dedication is to S.L.O. and the book has 271 pages plus a list of other books available from the publisher. The size is 4 1/4" x 6 1/4". The spine is embossed with Treasure Island at the top and Altemus at the bottom. This book is similar to another copy of Treasure Island that I've seen which is from the Vademecum series, but the cover is different.

Any information you can give me about this book would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. This series is a multivolume, multiauthored series of numerous reprints ranging from fiction to poetry.

It was published between 1909 and 1912. See: ../series/series180.htm.

It originally came in a red box. The box is pictured on the website.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I bought this book (The Lady of the Lake) at a yardsale. I wasn't having much luck looking it up til I found your site. However, I did not find this exact combination (color and cover painting). The book has an extra page inserted that doesn't seem to go to this book ??? It also has some kind of a silver colored paper cut out embossed sticker looking thing with an image of a chariot on it. Do you know what it is? I will attempt to send photos.

A:  Your book has the 1901 cover from the Vademecum Series. ../vademecum.htm. Each year the of this series changed. Every cover came in a number of different covers.

In the 1901 books more than 40 different potential pictures exist. If you look at the pictures on the URL above, yours is #35. Each color cover can be seen with any picture. So there are 100's of different combinations for each year that these pictures were used -none rarer or more valuable than any other.

I have no idea what the sticker is. Sorry.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello. My friend bought this book for me the other day. I am not looking to sell it as I am a huge Alice in Wonderland collector, but I am wondering what kind of value (if any) there is behind it. I really don't know anything about it, sorry I am not of much help. The inside says Henry Altemus, copyright 1899. Please let me know any information you have on it.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. See ../series/series180.htm This series consisted of reprints of various works of fiction, essays, poetry, etc.

Most of the books in this series have only have nominal value. If a book has its original labeled box with it, it would be worth a bit more. Perhaps this book is slightly more valuable because of the volume of "Alice" collectors. Certainly still a very inexpensive book.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you give me any information about this book (A Christmas Carol)? When published, etc.?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (../series/series180.htm) and was published between 1909 and 1912. This series consists of reprints of essays, fiction, classics, poetry, etc. Your book originally came in a red labeled box.

Since it is a late reprint, it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I came across this book (A Christmas Carol) in my father's belongings. I wondered what it might be worth and where I might go to sell it?

A:  Your book was published in 1900 as part of the Vademecum Series. ../series/series180.htm

The books of this series are all reprints and in 1900 came in a labeled box.

Although A Christmas Carol is a very well known and love book, these rather ordinary reprints seldom sell for more than a few dollars.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello - We saw on a book collecting website, (reference attached), your kind offer to help someone identify the year of publication of, "Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam", published by Henry Altemus Company, and were hoping you could possibly help us with the date of publication the book we have. As requested, we are sending a scan of the front cover.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series (../series/series180.htm). This series of reprints included essays, classics, poetry, fiction, etc. Every year or so the cover design would change. This book was published in 1902. A number of different color covers have been seen. Also more than 40 pictures within the cover design have been found. For more see ../vademecum.htm.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I have a Henry Altemus Company published book of the song of Hiawatha by Longfellow. It doesn't have a publishing date on it. It is in green leather with a farmer in a wheat field on the cover and a drawing of Minnehaha on the inside.. I can't seem to find anything about my book. Do you know anything? Thank you for your help.

A:  Your book is a 1907 publication and is part of the Vademecum Series. During this year this series of reprints used more than 40 pictures as paste-ons. Frequently the cover picture was part of a larger painting.

One part of the painting might be on one book and another part of the painting might appear on another book. Click here to see the large painting that includes your book's picture.

See ../vademecum.htm for more information.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I recently purchased a copy of "An Englishwoman's Love Letters" at a local antique store, printed by the Henry Altemus Company. I looked to see if my cover matched any listed on your site but it doesn't appear so. I was wondering if it was perhaps an unlisted design. The gold print on the front (I'm sorry for a lack of proper terminology) appears to be mostly that of a grape vine with two flowers with multiple petals. There is also a gold frame around a picture of a field, and a few people working in it.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. The cover format can be seen here: (Series 180)

During this year there were more than 40 different pictures used as paste-ons on the front cover. Your book's exact cover picture can be seen here Vademecum and is listed as picture #18.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found this book (Knickerbocker's History of New York) while cleaning out my mother's home. Copyright date is 1899. What can you tell me about it? Sorry pictures aren't very good. I had to use my cell phone.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (../series/series180.htm) and was published in 1899. This series consisted of reprints of fiction, poetry, essays, classics, etc. It originally came in a labeled box. It only has nominal value.