Q: I have this wonderful book. It does not have a date of publication anywhere that I can find.

It was given as a gift on December 25, 1897.

Could you help me with a publication date?

A: This book was part of the Beauxarts Series. This was a publisher’s series of reprints.

Your book was published in 1897.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series47.htm for more details.

Q: I just found this book in a box of old books of my Grandmother. Title is “House of Seven Gables” published by Henry Altemus Manufacture, Philadelphia. There is no publishing date. What can you tell me about it?? Is it worth taking to a book dealer or trying to sell it on e-bay?

A: This book is part of the Sanspareil Series. The books of this publisher’s series of reprints originally had dust jackets.

Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series162.htm

It was published in 1898.

It has only nominal value.

Q: I have a copy of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Altemus Esperance Series, in the original box. Henry Altemus Company 1896. Green with embossed leaves, the title in gold. Someone has inscribed it on an inside cover page “To dear Bessie with love from cousin Carrie, Christmas 1912, and included a gift card inscribed Bessie. Other than that it is in pristine condition. The box is very, very good with only one small tear to the edge. The original label is on the box in very very good condition. How would I go about finding the value and selling it?

A: This book and series can be found at http://henryaltemus.com/series/series79.htm
Books of this series with the original box usually sell for between $10-50.

In fairness though, you really just never know regarding the top or bottom of the price range.

I have included a picture of a box and a book from this series the questioner did not provide a picture for me.

Q: I would like some information about my Henry Altemus Co. book. I could not find it on your website…

It is a suede bound small book called “Songs of Shakespeare” Philadelphia copyright 1906 by Henry Altemus. It is still in the box, covered with a sheer paper cover, the edges and title are gold gilt. It is a collection of sayings from characters in Shakespeare’s works. I don’t think it’s ever been fully out of the box.

It is only 4.5″ x 3″.

A: Your book is part of the Waistcoat Pocket Series and can be found here in the Format 3 books: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series184.htm

Usually these books bring only nominal dollars but with a nicely labeled box it might sell for as much as $20-35.

The Altemus & Co. imprint can be found on Photographic albums, scrapbooks and a handful of other publications. Books with this imprint are quite scarce. Here is an example of a book with the Altemus & Co imprint. This title was first published by Hogan and Thompson, a Philadelphia publisher, in 1851.
The date of the Altemus publication is unclear. Based on the use of this imprint plus the style of the book a date between 1851 and the 1870’s is my best guess.

This is definitely the earliest Altemus & Co imprint that I have seen with exception of some photographic albums.

The book (The Talisman) has gold gilt edges and measures 6.5 x 9.5.

Here is a new dust jacket picture for the Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series (Peter Rabbit and the Two Terrible Foxes).

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series189.htm.

There are twenty books in this series not including the three variant titles.

With the addition of this picture the database now has twenty two of the possible twenty three dust jackets.