Q: My grandmother left me several old books, one of them is Beauty and the Beast and other stories. Can you help provide me with confirmation of information about this book, possibly its value if there is any, and is it possibly a 1st edition. I’m considering selling it and need to verify what I have and what it may be worth if possible. Any help you can offer would be much appreciated.

A: You can determine the edition of your book by looking here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series131.htm

It is a second format book in the Mother Goose Series. The first format books have a colored left sided cover vellum. Compare the pictures. The first format book has red vellum on the left of the cover.

Your book is a reprint and without a dust jacket will be difficult to sell for more than a few dollars.

Altemus published Bibles from the 1870’s until the 1890’s. These Bibles are large oversized volumes. For the most part they are elegantly leather bound with gold gilt lettering and decorations.

For information about the publishing history of the Altemus Bibles see http://henryaltemus.com/bibles/bibles.htm

As of this time there are 60 different Altemus Bible covers known. Today I am adding another cover to the database. It is numbered B43 and was published in 1895-1896.

Carolyn Wells wrote the two Folly books- Folly in Fairyland (1901) and Folly in the Forest (1902). These books were published as part of the Folly Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series89.htm) and Series 125 Little Men and Women Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series125.htm) (1907-1925).

Regardless of which series either of these titles are part of, each title has the same distinct book cover picture (except for the colors). Fairyland was first published in 1901 while Forest was first published in 1902. Since these books frequently have no ads in the back, it can be hard to date them.

For dating/edition determination-see below.

Series 89 Folly Series

1901- Folly in Fairyland has illustrated end papers and glossy illustrations throughout the book.

1902- Forest/Fairyland- No illustrated end papers. Glossy illustrations throughout the book.

1905 (ca.)-Forest/Fairyland- End papers are on plain (not glossy) paper and illustrations are on a lighter glossy paper.

Series 125 Little Men and Women Series

1907-1925 Illustrations on plain paper and no end papers illustrations.

Folly Series-First Edition	Folly Series-First Edition	Folly Series-Later Edition
1901 Endpapers -Folly in Fairyland	1901 Endpapers -Folly in Fairyland	Folly Series- First Edition

Series 125 Little Men and Women Series editions

Q: I have a copy of this book and can’t find a picture of it on your site or on ebay or amazon. The book is approximately 4 x 6 and appears the be leather bound. It is a greenish maybe teal color cover it has a small picture in the center with a three story maybe store front with a awning over one door or window. It does not have a copy write date in it The third page is a picture it reads at bottom see page 15. the next page is green and red top-John Bunyan middle-The Pilgrim’s Progress bottom-Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. Any idea how I can find out the value I can’t find anything to compare it to.

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1907.

In 1907, the Vademecum Series had the cover pattern of your book with one of more than forty possible pictures within the cover decoration.

If you look at the Vademecum site (http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm), you will see that your book’s picture is #9 and the book cover is shown as a 1907 cover.

Because this title is a reprint and your book is in poor shape, it probably has no value.

Q: I would like to know what series this book is or any information you can give me on this book? It’s copyright date is 1895 and titled Poe’s Poems. Value?

A: Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Sanspareil Series.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series163.htm.

It is a reprint and generally sells for only a few dollars. There are a number of Poe collectors that sometimes however will pay more than I think the book is worth.

Q: I HAVE JUST DISCOVERED THIS BOOK AND WAS HOPING TO FIND OUT MORE INFO.

A: This book comes from a four book series, Uncle Jim’s Bible Stories Series written by Hartwell James. It was first published in 1916. All the books of this series were first published with dust jackets.

I have seen this title with an applique (paste-on) on the front cover. This picture is included for comparison purposes.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series177.htm for more information.

Without the dust jacket this title has only nominal value.

Q: Can u tell me anything about this book (Black Beauty)? there are only 4 illustrations. the only color page is opposite the author page. no date. engraved cover.

A: Your book is from the Sanspareil Series and was published in 1899. This is a publisher’s series of reprints. It consists mainly of fiction, poetry, essays, etc. It originally came with a dust jacket.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series163.htm

Since the books of this series are all reprints, except for a few special well collected titles, their value is only nominal.

Q: I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this book? It has no date what-so-ever, but from your website I am guessing it to be about a 1901-1903 publication of Black Beauty? My copy has an ink splot on the cover.

A: Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm

These books were published between 1899 and 1906. You can date this book more closely by looking at the ads and then at the section on the site above which gives a dating flowchart.

It is a reprint and is relatively common. Initially this book came in a labeled box.

Q: Good morning –

Attached please find pics of The Scarlet Letter published by Henry Altemus. However, inside the book, at the beginning, are the preface and introduction to Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Henry Drummond, up to page 12 and then the next page is page 33 of The Scarlet Letter. Have you ever seen anything like it?

A: I have seen mistakes like this but not this exact one.

I suspect someone at the factory was not thinking clearly.

The book is an 1898 publication from the Vademecum Series. http://henryaltemus.com/series/series179.htm

Q: I have a book from my grandmother’s estate, and I would like to give it to my son and daughter-in-law. A copy of the cover is attached. The book is in good condition, and was given to my grandmother at some point before 1907 as a Sunday School gift from her teacher.
I have researched as much as I can from your website, and would like to have an approximate value, or any additional information you have have, to include with notes in the book.

The only writing in the book is the notation by the teacher to my grandmother of the gift.

A: Information about your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series127.htm

It is a reprint and this title is not in great demand.

It only has nominal value.