This set of 18 books is divided into six sets of three books. The first format books initially were housed in a box with a matching design. Generally speaking, the boxes for the pre-1900 two, three and five volume sets are extremely hard to find. Pictured here is one of these rare three book sets with the matching box.
For more information, see Three Volume Sets

Q: Recently, while moving things from a bedroom at my grandparents house due to damage from the storms in April 2011, I ran across a book (image attached) by your company. As I have a small collection of antique books, I tried to look this one up, but have been unsuccessful at finding it online. It is listed on your website, but any search for it turns up nothing. The binding is somewhat faded, and the spine and back cover have minor water damage, which appears to be quite old. The title (if not readable in the photo) is “Poe’s Poems”. There is no copyright page in the book, which has complicated my search. I would like to know the publication date of the book, and if possible, how many were printed in this edition.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902.
See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm.

There is no record of how many were published.

Here is a new cover color for this four book series (Life’s Guidance Series). As of this date 2 different color covers have been seen. The orange one is new to the database.

Q: Could you tell me more information about this book? See attached. What series would it be? How much it might be worth? I welcome anything you know!

A: Your book is part of the Esperance Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series79.htm. It was published between 1905 and 1909.

This series of twenty books originally came in a labeled box. All the books which are reprints can be found in either brown or green suede.

Generally these books sells for between $0-20.

Q: Hello, I was wondering if you could help me put a publication date to this book? I cannot find a similar copy online. It is The Rubaiyat Of Omar Khayyam published by Henry Altemus Company. I believe it is sometime around 1900. Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide. Cover scan attached.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902. It is a publisher’s series and consisted of reprints of poetry, classics, fiction, etc.

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

The picture on the right was done by the artist Alphonse Mucha.