The Altemus Library differs from the other publisher’s series in that one of the formats has a different cover for each of the 41 titles. Books #33-41 are especially difficult to find. Here is book #39 (Weird Tales).

Here is one of the very scarcest Altemus books. In the 1890’s Altemus published a few books in paperback. These books are quite rare. In 1897 the first Altemus edition of Klondike by L. A. Coolidge was published in both wraps and hardcover. Here is the book in wraps. A later second edition was published in hardcover.
See: http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_84.jpg

Q: I am hoping that you will be able to tell me a little something about a book I have that belonged to my grandmother. I have been searching the internet but haven’t found anything that has the same cover as mine. It is an 1897 copy of Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”, cloth covered. I have attached some pictures.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.

A: Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm. You can see in the pictures covers that match yours.

It was published in sometime between 1908-1926. The ads in the back can help you determine exactly when.

The books of this series originally came in a floral decorated box which can be seen in the picture section.

Here is an interesting flyer that advertises Klondike written by L.A. Coolidge. It is 5.75 x 3.5. This piece was put out by the Thomson Stationery Company located in Vancouver. Two Klondike books are noted. The Coolidge authored book was published in 1897 by Altemus.

The first edition was published in 1897 in both wraps and hardcover. Later in 1897 Altemus did a second printing which included several new chapters.

The first edition had 213 pages plus ads. The later edition had 251 pages.

The 1899 books of this series have a stereotyped design on the left side of the cover. The right side of the cover can have any one of a number of different patterns/designs. As of this date I have seen 25 different right halves.

For more information on Series 143, click here

Q: Can you date this book for me?
Author Rowson, Mrs. Susanna (Haswell), 1762-1824
Title Charlotte Temple

A: Your book was published as part of the Petit Trianon Series.

It was published in 1905-1906.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm

Q: The book, Thanatopsis and Other Poems, is in my possession and I would like more information on how much this book is worth. Please see picture attached. Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

A: Your book can be found here– http://henryaltemus.com/series/series146.htm

It is part of the Poems We Love Series. It originally came in a labeled box.

It has only nominal value.

Q: My book (Dante’s Purgatory and Paradise) looks identical to your picture that I added below. Do you know how much it may be worth? As you had mentioned on your website, the book has no publishing date. The binding has not been well maintained but the pages look good other than some browning around the edges. Thank you very much for your help.

A: This book usually sells between $25-100 when it is auctioned on Ebay.

More information can be found at Dore’s Masterpieces Series.

Q: I was given this book. It has been in my family and passed down. Written in it is Miss Leah Ridd Christmas 1902. I am trying to find out exactly when it was published.

A: Your book is part of the publisher’s reprint series-the Vademecum Series.

It was published in 1897.

It can be seen here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series179.htm

Q: I recently purchased an antique copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland on ebay.. And looking at the cover i realized i have never see that style before.. So i googled different cover styles and i came across your site where you mention all the different errors ebay sellers make. And i noticed what you said made their description was completely wrong about the printing date.. I’m going to post you a picture of the book and paste the info the ebay seller had put about it.. I wanted to know if you have ever seen this cover before? Because I can’t find it anywhere…

A: I had seen this book on Ebay. You can find your cover here (Book #2 Variant): http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202F4.htm

It is a nice “Alice” book just not a very early one. It is quite easy to see that the date is way off by looking at all the ads in the back. You will see a number of books listed there which were published for the first time in the 1920’s.

Even with the dust jacket this book generally does not command this dollar amount.

Unfortunately many sellers see the copyright date and mistake it for the publication date.

The most common of all the Altemus “Alice’s” can be found in the Young People’s Library. There is seldom a time on Ebay where several of them are being auctioned.

See http://henryaltemus.com/ypl/index.htm.