Q: I have three Altemus books, the first is an 1895 Through the Looking Glass and what Alice found there, from your information on the spine design, I believe it is a Format 1 second edition because it lists Gulliver’s Travels in the box opposite the title page. It is slightly smaller than the following two Format 2 books.
The other two are Format 2 based on the spine design. Swiss Family Robinson dated 1896 and Arabian Nights dated 1897. Both have four pages of ads in the back with Grandfather’s Chair being the last one listed. Arabian Nights has the green patterned endsheets with a girl sitting in the letter “A” while Swiss Family Robinson has plain endsheets.
I am wondering if I have understood your information correctly, and where I might go to learn of their value?

A: The two Format 2 books were published between 1898 and 1902. You should be able to date them with the notes on the Format 2 page. They generally do not sell for much. That is, less than $15. Occasionally someone just has to have a book, but as a seller you cannot count on that.

The Through the Looking Glass book is a nice book. You have identified it perfectly. This book should bring in $25-75. Again luck plays a role if you put it on Ebay. What I mean is that I have seen it sell for more but also I have seen it not sell. Just cannot figure it. Remember that the Altemus book is a reprint with the first edition being published many years before.

Q: I noticed you have a biblio for the Doris Force books, and you have the last 2 dated at 1932. However I have a copy of Doris Force at Barry Manor (fine in a near fine dj) by Donohue and the copyright info is “MCMXXXI, by H.A. Co.” Obviously that is 1931. How did that discrepancy come about?

A: The copyright of Barry Manor is 1932.

As you can see Altemus had the original copyright in August of 1932.

Donohue reprinted this book several years later. They probably just copied the date down wrong!

Q: Hello! At a charity auction I acquired a copy of an Altemus Paradise Lost book.

Inside the book is an inscription which reads: “To my dear niece Gertrude, from Aunt May. Christmas 1888”

However, I think this may not be authentic, as it appears the book would not have been published until mid-1889. Out of curiosity, do you know if it would have been possible to have the book prior to 1889?

I’ve attached pictures of the book for reference!

A: In most years the next year’s edition would come out at Xmas before the new year. So for example a book which is a first edition with the date on the title page may still have an inscription of December of the year before.

Q: I have a Black Beauty book that i cannot find a match to anywhere. The cover for it looks exactly like this Twice Told Tales copy except the picture is of Black Beauty with a rider in a green riding habit. The illustration is similar to those on other Black Beauty book covers. I would like to know more about this book and if it has any value. Thanks!

A: Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm with the Boys and Girls’ Classics
Depending on condition it is worth only a few dollars.