Monthly Archives: November 2010

Question & Answer Series 186

Q: I have this book and was trying to find out information on it and to see what it’s value might be. I tried looking it up on your site and really did not find much info on it so anything you can assist me with I would appreciate it. I am attaching the front cover picture as well as another from inside. It has copyright, 1920 by Howard E. Altemus on one of the pages.

thanks for any information you can give me.

A: Your book is part of Series #186 Wee Books for Wee Folks. (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series186.htm)

This title was part of this series only in 1920. Thereafter it was part of Series #187-Wee Folks Bible Stories Series.(http://henryaltemus.com/series/series187.htm)

Yellow lettering was seen on the Wee Books between 1918-1920.

Series 110- In His Name Series

In this series of religiously oriented books the first format has a stereotypical left sided design. The right side pictures one of sixteen flowers. Here is a new cover of this format for the database.

Loyal Responses by Havergal

Question & Answer Series 143

Q: Hello. I found this book (The Scarlet Letter) while cleaning out my recently deceased great aunt’s house. The cover is not in the best of shape but the inside is perfect other than a natural discoloration of the pages. I was wondering if you could tell me about it as I could not find it on your site. Any information about it or its worth would be greatly appreciated.

A: Your book can be found here Petit Trianon Series with the 1905-1906 books.

In average shape without the original box it has only nominal value.

Question & Answer Series 78

Q: Hello!! I was at a flea market today and picked up a copy of The Dore Bible Gallery. The book caught my eye due to a number of things I had learned in passing from my grandfather, who was an antiquarian bookseller. After some web surfing, I came upon your page and was surprised at what I discovered regarding this book.

The picture of the book can be found on your page here:

The advertising flyer, shown at this link, is still in the book:

I am contacting you in hopes you can help me with some information. Is there a way to determine the exact printing date? There is no date on the cover, or even the preface. How many copies were printed in the various years? Is the inclusion of the flyer that was normally distributed with the book, influence the value, or help in determining when it was printed? Was this volume originally boxed?

Any other tips, clues or information regarding this book you could provide or give me advice about, would be very very appreciated.

A: The book you have did originally come within a box. It was printed between 1889-1900. There is nothing that distinguishes an earlier book from a later book.

I do not have print number runs. But none of the Dore books are especially hard to find. Although I believe that all of the Dore books had an advertising flyer within the book, I cannot prove it.

There is quite a range in prices for this book. The flyer has no effect although I would think it should.

This title sells for between $25-75 in most instances. I frequently see asking prices of $200-300 but these books seldom (if ever) sell. Occasionally I see the individual prints for sale in a book that has been parted out. I have never seen an individual print from the book sell for much at all.

If I can be of any other help, please let me know.

Question & Answer Series 179

Q: Would like to find more information regarding The House of the Seven Gables book that I own. Any help is appreciated. Thank you! Michelle (Photos Attached)

A: You can find your book pictured with the other 1898 books here: Vademecum Series

It has only nominal value.

Series 143- Petit Trianon Series

Here is a new picture for the 1903-1904 books. There are three possible left sided vellums- pink, blue and white. There is also a suede variant.

The blue and pink books are less common than the white ones. There are sixteen possible right sided cover flower pictures. With the addition of this book the data base now has seven blue books, six pink books and nine white vellum books.

Question & Answer Series 179

Q: Hello, I have a Nathaniel Hawthorne book which I believe it was published by Henry Altemus in Philadelphia. I attached photos of the book from the outside and some inside. I really just wanted to know a little bit more about the book, the history and what the value of the book is.

A: Your book is a reprint and is part of the Vademecum Series.

More about your 1898 book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series179.htm

It only has nominal value.

Henry Altemus and Leinbach & Bro.


Henry Altemus/Altemus & Co. published books for department stores over the years. Altemus published Bibles for Montgomery Ward (see http://www.henryaltemus.com/publications/montward.htm) and Shakespeare’s Works for Gusky’s, a clothier in Pittsburgh (See http://henryaltemus.com/publications/gusky.htm).

Altemus had a long relationship with Leinbach & Bro. which was a clothier store in Reading, Pennsylvania. As early as 1893 and as late as 1915 Leinbach gave away Altemus books as some sort of promotion (perhaps with the purchase of an item). Most of these books are stamped on the front or back cover with “Compliments of Leinbach & Bro”. Within these books are two pages of ads for Leinbach. One ad is bound into the front and one is bound into the back of the book. There are a number of different versions of the ads. Some ads are personalized to the book it is placed in. An example is found in the book “Ifs”. The front ad is titled- “Ifs of Clothing”. (see below) I have never seen any other company advertisements placed within an Altemus book.

A variety of books and their ads are shown below.

1893

1896

1900 from the book Paul Kruger

1902

1907

From the book “Ifs” – 1907

Post-1907

1909

1915

Henry Altemus was not the only publishing house to have a relationship with Leinbach & Bro. I have recently discovered two other publishers whose books were given away “compliments of Leinbach & Bro.”.

Hurst & Co., a New York publisher, that was active from the early 1870’s to 1919 published numerous reprint series as well as many juvenile series in the first and second decade of the 20th century.

Two Hurst books are shown here.

The first is a 1910 book, Little Minister, published within the 108 book Ansonia Series. Although this publisher’s series was printed for several years, since the ad states that Leinbach had been active for forty-five years, the book must be from 1910 because the company started in 1865. 1865 + 45 = 1910.

The back of the book ad is the same that was seen in the Altemus books beginning in 1909.

1910

The second Hurst book, Brooks’ Addresses is part of the 25 volume Golden Hour Series. Because the front ad notes that Leinbach & Bro. has been active for 46 years, this is therefore a 1911 book. Again the back ad of “Reliable Clothing” is unchanged from the 1909 ad.

1911

I. M. Beaver was a small religious book publishing house located in Reading, Pa. It would seem therefore to be a natural for Leinbach & Bro. advertising.

The ads in this book have not been seen elsewhere. The book is about several people “rambling through Europe”. The front ad mentions how the rambling men wore Leinbach clothes in their travels. The back ad is a general information blurb. The back ad notes that Leinbach has been operating for 47 years. Thus -1912 is the year for these ads. Since the book’s title page has 1911 at the base. Most likely the ad went into unsold 1911 books.

1912

Leinbach & Bro. was founded by Joseph A. and George A. Leinbach in 1865. The store was located at 851 Penn Street (8th and Penn) in Reading, Pennsylvania. In 1890 Charles Leinbach, a nephew, was also made a named partner. The company incorporated in 1919. Its product line included men’s and boys’ suits as well as children’s clothing. Overcoats are also noted in a number of ads.

Some examples of Leinbach trade cards and other advertising are also shown below.

 

Series 143- Petit Trianon Series (Third numbering)

The Petit Trianon Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm) changed its cover format every year or two. Generally in any one year the left half of the cover had a constant decoration while the right half had any one of a number of flowers or other patterns.

In the 1903-1904 books there were four different covers. Each had a pedestal on the left. One was soft leather. The other three had the left sided vellum in either beige, pink or blue. On the right was one of 16 different flowers. The beige book is the most common while the leather, blue and pink are scarcer.

The book being added to the database today is the seventh pink one. There are already seven blue books and nine beige books in the database. The 1903-1904 books came in labeled boxes originally.
Through the Looking Glass

Series 124- Little Bunnie Bunniekin Series

Variant covers for the books of this series published in 1928-1929 are shown below. As opposed to the more common book which has a small applique (paste-on) on the front cover which is surrounded by line drawn pictures, the books here have an applique that encompasses the entire front cover. A example of the more common cover is also show below.

Variant Cover

Variant Cover

Variant Cover

Regular Cover