The Young People’s Library was an Altemus juvenile fiction series which was published between 1895 and 1933. During this time frame there were four consecutive formats which are easily distinguished by their spine designs. Samples of Format 4 spines are shown below.

Today I am adding a new cover to the Format 4 books (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202F4.htm). There are 37 titles in this format. They were published between 1923 and 1933.

Dating these books definitively is difficult because the ads in the back of the book were randomly placed. The dust jackets usually match the appliqué cover picture. Occasionally however the jacket matches a frontispiece picture which is not the same as the cover.

Altemus and Company was mainly a printer in the 1880’s. In addition to blank books, stationery and the like, a number of Altemus printed stock certificates have been seen. Here is a second stock certificate (for this website) for a Colorado mining company. This 1881 certificate for 500 shares was issued by the Lincoln Mining Company of Leadville, Colorado. Note the “Altemus & Co. Phil” imprint on the bottom left.

It is impossible to know how many companies contracted with Altemus to print their stock certificates. Here is the fourth one that I have found.

The A.J. Holman Company reprinted the four volume Uncle Jim’s Bible Stories Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series177.htm). Hartwell James authored these books and initially Altemus published them between 1916 and 1923.

Interestingly Holman had been a major Altemus competitor for the sale of Bibles in the 1800’s. Holman was still publishing Bibles however well after Altemus had gone out of business.

Bible Story Books by Hartwell James
1. Uncle Jim’s Bible Stories
2. Uncle Jim’s Stories from the New Testament
3. Uncle Jim’s Stories from the Old Testament
4. Boys of the Bible

Both the Henry Altemus Company and the A.J. Holman Company books are 7.5 x 5.25.

The books were probably published in the late 1930’s but I have not confirmed this as of yet.

#1 Dust Jacket	#1	#2 Dust Jacket	#2
#3 Dust Jacket	#3	#4	Dust Jacket Reverse

Q: Can you give me information and possibly the probable value of this book, A Christmas Carol? See attached photos.

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series, is a reprint and was published in 1904. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm.

During this year the front cover style came in a number of different colors. In addition, any one of four flower patterns have been seen on the paste-on (appliqué).

The books of this series originally came in a labeled box.

Because of its condition, you will be fortunate to sell it for more than a few dollars.

Q: Hello, Could you me anything about this book (Milton’s Poems)- age/value? Thank you!

A: Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Marqueterie Series.(http://henryaltemus.com/series/series130.htm) As you can see, the cover is of the Japanese inlaid veneer style. This series consists of 149 titles all of which are reprints.

This publisher’s series was only printed during 1899. Thus, it is one of the more uncommon large Altemus reprint series.

Regardless, the books of this series four the most part have limited value.