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:  Can you tell me anything about this book (The Song of Hiawatha)? Henry Altemus Company in Philadelphia appears to be the publisher ?

I have attached a copy of the cover and the inside of it... there is no Copyright date that I can find.

Is it worth anything ??

A:  You can find your book here with the 1909-1912 books.

../series/series180.htm

It has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I recently found a copy of Shakespeare's Heroines by a Mrs Jameson. I'm trying to find out when it was published, as there is no date printed in the book. The cover looks very similar to one in the Vademecum Series you have pictured. The author died in 1860, but the introduction to the "second edition" speaks of her as though she were still alive, though I gather from your site it was printed around 1909. I'm very ignorant when it comes to antique books, so I hope you can explain this. Was it common for introductions to refer to the author in this way? Or is the copy I have not the second edition, but simply printed with the introduction to that edition?

I've attached a picture of the cover and the title page.

Thank you for your help!

A:  This book was published between 1909 and 1912 as part of the Vademecum Series.

What many of the reprint publishing companies did (including Altemus) was to reprint the entire book from an earlier copy. When Altemus did this, the new copy would sometimes include an earlier dated preface and the like. Thus, your assumption is right. Altemus reprinted the entire second edition.

Many of the books that Altemus reprinted are similar to this one with earlier prefaces included.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello was just checking on the age and value of this book. The book is really good shape.

A:  Your book was published in 1899. It is part of the Vademecum Series.
See Series 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  Could you please tell me what year this Alice in Wonderland was published? I looked at the website but I was unable to find one that was close to what this one looked like. I have enclosed a photo of the front cover. If you need more photos or more info please let me know. Also any information on the value would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Hello,
Your book was published in 1903. See Vademecum Series.
Your picture is listed on this page as #7.

For more on the Vademecum Series see Series 180

Most of the books of this format have only nominal value. Alice in Wonderland books however are more widely collected than most. $10-35 would be fair I think.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found this book (Cranford) in an abandoned storage and was trying to get some info on it's value when I came upon your website. Any help or info you might have would be appreciated.

A:  Your book can be found here with the 1899 books: Vademecum Series

Most of the books in the various publisher's series by Altemus have little value without the original box or dust jacket. This book falls in this category.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Is there anyway you can tell me if this old book of my grandmothers is worth anything and when it was published? Tanglewood Tales

A:  Your book can be found here with the 1904 books. It is part of the Vademecum Series. This long running series of reprints generally changed covers yearly.

Series 180

It only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me what the publication date is on this book (The Biglow Papers)? Any information would be appreciated
Thanks.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 as part of Series 180 Vademecum Series. During this year Altemus used more than 40 possible pictures on the front cover.

See Vademecum Series for more information.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was given an old book (The Lady of the Lake) and I wondered what you could tell me about its age.

A:  You can find your book here with the 1904 books.

Series 180

It is part of the Vademecum publisher's series which is comprised of reprints.

The flowers seen on the cover are on of four possible flower pictures found in the 1904 books.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a book of The Scarlet Letter. Written by: Nathaniel Hawthorne and published by Henry Altemus Company. On the first page it has the preface. Below the word preface it says "To the second edition". After the preface introduction there is a date (SALEM, March 30, 1850). Attached is a picture of the front of the book. I am just curious if this book is worth anything. I know it was bought on October 9, 1903. The person who bought it wrote the date on the back page and why she bought it. The measurements of the book are: 6 1/2 inches x 1 inch x 4 1/2 inches if that helps any. I have looked for many hours online trying to find a book with the same cover. Please help me.

A:  Information on your book can be found here: Vademecum Series and at Series 180

It was published in 1903. Altemus published this title in numerous formats. When it did, it reprinted the entire book including the early dated preface.

Thus, every edition of this book that Altemus reprinted has the "second edition" preface from the original 1850's book.

It has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I received this book from my grandmother upon her death. I think it is the Vademecum series. The binding is in poor shape, and the last two pages of the book, one is torn and one is loose. There are no dates printed on any page.

If possible, I would like to know the book's print date and if it is of any monetary value. It is a darling book and is of high sentimental value to me.

A:  It is a 1907 book. See Series 180

It is part of the Vademecum Series which was a Altemus series of reprints. The covers changed yearly.

It only has nominal value.