Q: Hello, I stumbled upon your website trying to find information about a book I have acquired. It is “Tales from Shakespeare” by Charles and Mary Lamb. The only date I can find is 1894. I might be looking to sell it. Do you have any information or know if it is worth anything? I have attached photos.

A: Your book is part of the Altemus Library. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series37.htm
It originally came with a dust jacket.

Unfortunately in poor condition it really has only nominal, if any, value.

This little advertising calendar (3.875 x 2.375) from 1880 from Altemus & Co. points out the company’s ability to manufacture whatever type of book the client wanted. At this time Altemus had not been routinely publishing reading books on its own imprint. Bibles, photographic albums and scrapbooks were the mainstay of their own imprint’s publishing business but Altemus was very busy publishing for the needs of others.

Q: Dear experts, here is some pics.of a book young robin hood. copy right.1900
can you tell me anything more concerning this book?

A: Your book is part of the Dainty Series.You can find out more about it here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series74.htm

It is part of the last format (5) of this series published at the end of its print run in around 1908-1909. It originally had a dust jacket.

It has only nominal value.

Q: I searched all over your site but I could not find anything with this cover. It is missing the first six pages and would love to know the year in which it was printed. thank you!

A: Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

It is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. You should be able to accurately date it by looking at the ads in the back of the book.

See the last book published in a series and then look up the series.

Q: I have a copy of the Scarlet Letter published by the Henry Altemus Publishing Company and My late Uncle thought it was published about 1850. It is in very good shape.
Thanks

A: Actually your book was published in 1904. The early date is on the preface which Altemus reprinted.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

When Altemus reprinted the classics, it frequently reprinted the entire text including the preface. Thus, it is easy to confuse the date of publication with the date on the preface.

It has only nominal value.