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

A: Your book was published in 1899.
It is part of the Vademecum Series.
See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Q: Hi – My mother recently gave my 7 year old the attached book (Treasure Island). He is very fond of it and carries it everywhere. I am worried that it may be more valuable than she readily is aware and should be reshelved. Could you possibly take a look and let me know the history in regards the book?

A: Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Sanspareil Series.
See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series163.htm

It only has nominal value so carrying it around won’t hurt its value.

Q: I found this in my company’s leave-one-take-one book pile. It’s one of yours. John Ruskin’s Queen of the Air. I have no use for it but if you do lemme know. I like your site.

A: Your book was published in 1898.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series162.htm

Q: Can you tell me anything about this little book? (Paul and Virginia)

A: Your book was published in 1901-1902 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It original came in a labeled box.

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

The picture on the right of the cover was done by Alphonse Mucha, a well known Czech artist. It is called Poetry. See http://henryaltemus.com/artists/artists-Mucha.htm

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 http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm.

Your picture is listed on this page as #7.

For more on the Vademecum Series see http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

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.

The ten books of this series are commonly found. Of the multiple formats, format 1a is by far the rarest. A new cover picture for the database for this format is shown below (The Adopted Son). Format 1a books have black endpapers and probably were published only for a short time in 1907.

Here is a new picture for this series (Bible Stories for Little Children). Now all the first format book covers are included in the database.

http://henryaltemus.com/series/series137.htm

Here is another edition of Naked Truths and Veiled Allusions before it appeared in the Jester Life Series beginning in 1909.

It cannot be dated exactly.

Based on Altemus catalogues and advertisements, Silas Marner only appeared in eleven series. Only one of those series featured books with “limp velvet calf”. That series is #171 Stories We Love Series. This book is identical to the books of that series except for the gold embossed symbol on the bottom right of the front cover. The Stories we Love Symbol is a flower (see below) whereas the book shown here is not.

Although I am inclined to say that this book is part of the Stories We Love Series, until I see other similar covers and symbols I cannot be sure.

Unknown Series

Series 171

In this series the cover picture changed most every year. This cover’s picture is from the 1899 format. In 1899 the left side of the cover is constant but the right side has various floral/decorative designs. Including this cover the database now shows twenty-five different right sided designs.