As I have mentioned a number of times, most Altemus books were published in series form. Every now and then however the series cannot be determined. There are two reasons for this. First, the catalogues don’t show the particular format to which the book belongs. The second reason is that the series to which the book(s) belongs is just not noted in any of the catalogues.

An example of the latter is the Christmas Gift Series (#64) which is not listed anywhere.

In order to be certain of a series name to which a book in these categories belongs to you have to find the book in a dust jacket or a box. The jacket or box is generally labeled.

Presently I have seen three books with the cover below. These books have soft embossed leather covers.
1. Fanchon the Cricket
2. Tartarin on the Alps
3. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

Fanchon was published by Henry Altemus (pre-1900) whereas Tartarin was published by Henry Altemus Company (1900 or later).

Only five series include all three of these titles:
#48 Beauxarts Series
#118 L’Art Nouveau Series
#130 Marqueterie Series
#143 Petit Trianon Series
#180 Vademecum Series

So these books either belong to one of the above series or a series which has yet to be discovered.

Q: Hi. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this book (The Little Lame Prince). My grandma bought it at a garage sale, I believe.

A: This book is part of the Young People’s Library, Format 3.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202F3.htm

You can date the book by looking at the ads in the back and using the information on the page above. This format was published between 1902 and 1923. These books originally came with a dust jacket.

Because it is a reprint in poor shape, it has little value.

Here is another Henry Altemus book with an author’s signature. This book was published after 1900 and it was signed in January, 1921 one month before Habberton’s death. It is especially nice because of Habberton’s photograph.

Habberton wrote other Altemus books besides Trif and Trixy. These are Poor Boy’s Chances and Helen’s Babies.

John Habberton (1842-1921) was born in New York and after serving in the Civil War he worked for the New York Herald as an editorial writer. His most famous work was Helen’s babies which was first published by Loring in 1876. During the latter part of the nineteenth century it was among the most popular juvenile books in print. Some of his other books include Budge and Toddie, The Chautauquans, Caleb Wright, Everybody’s Chance, and All He Knew, etc.

Q: Hi—Finally took some photos of the book. I would like to know if there is a market for a first edition 1896 of “Altemus’ Favorite Series The Fables of Aesop.” It’s in fairly good condition, binding still fine, with beat-up but readable dust jacket. There is a raven or crow dropping a ball into an urn on the dust jacket and cover. There is a stamped name and date on the inside first blank page, but I haven’t seen any other marks except for some slight grease marks (fingers?) on a few pages. I have looked online and couldn’t find any other copies for sale or wanted, and only found it listed on your site. Please advise.

A: Your book is part of Altemus’ Favorirte Series. This is a series of nineteen books which are all reprints came in two different formats. The book above is a second format book (1902-1910) and the covers of this format are the same as those in the Young People’s Library. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series87.htm

The date of publication can be determined by looking at the ads in the back of the book and following the information in the “series notes” on the page above. This book is a reprint.

I think it is a very nice book especially because you have the original dust jacket. It can be hard to estimate the value. Generally this book with the jacket would sell for about $15-25. Dealers might list it for much more but unless someone just has to have it, the book will remain unsold. Sometimes a similar book will not sell at all at any price. I guess you just never know.

Q: I am so glad I found your website. I have been trying really hard to find the value of a book I have. It is a henry altemus book. altemus young peoples library. I actually found the book on your site and info just not the value. It is series #202, volume #8, not the first edition. The book is in very good condition. I would greatly appreciate any assistance you could be. I have attached three pictures for your consideration.

A: This book is part of the First Format of the Young People’s Library. The books of this format are much less commonly found then the later formats of this series. Swiss Family Robinson was published between 1896-1898 in this style. The cover has been seen in several different colors.

It appears that you have a very nice book. The site does not give any values because prices can change with time and are also quite dependent upon condition.
In my experience this book would sell for less than $20. Of course you never know when someone just has to have a book but that price is what I have seen over quite a number of years.

This book was published by the Henry Altemus Company in 1910. It was first published in the New York Post in 1909.

1910

Title page

Author Inscription

The author, Montague Glass (1877-1934), was an English-born playwright who moved to the United States in 1890. Although educated as a lawyer, he made his living as a writer. His plays were comedies about Jewish business partners. This book, Potash and Perlmutter, became a successful play produced in 1913 (three years after the Altemus book was published). Another half dozen or so plays were written in collaboration with other authors in the teens and 1920’s.

Potash and Perlmutter was also made into a Samuel Goldwyn silent movie produced in 1923. Two sequels were produced, one in 1924- In Hollywood with Potash and Perlmutter and the third one in 1926 – Partners Again.

This book was illustrated by Henry Patrick Raleigh (1880-1944). Raleigh did illustrations for a number of magazines: Vanity Fair, Saturday Evening Post and Colliers to name a few. He mainly drew pictures of “aristocratic socialites” including the pictures for this book. For more information about Raleigh see http://illustrationart.blogspot.com/2009/12/henry-patrick-raleigh-1880-1944.html.

Altemus did not publish any other works of Montague Glass.

Glass inscribed this book to Benjamin Lambord (1879-1915). Lambord who was an American composer was a friend of Glass. An article in the San Francisco Examiner indicates that the Glass and his wife shared a cottage in Switzerland with Lambord in 1911.

Shown above is a picture of the Altemus book from 1910, the book’s title page and an author’s inscription.

Montague Glass

Henry Patrick Raleigh

Sample Raleigh illustration from Potash and Perlmutter