This series has 58 titles each of which was published with two different covers. The book being added today is J. Cole. The new cover picture has gold gilt decorations in the vertical rectangular areas on each side of the centrally placed picture of the little boy.

The other cover format which is shown has no gold gilt decorations.

Of interest is that each title in this series has a different book appropriate pictorial figure. A couple of other examples are shown for interest.

For more information see: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm

This title was published in three non series formats before it was included in the Jester Life Series.

Today I am adding a fourth second edition cover. These second edition books have a stereotyped pattern on the left of the cover with various different decorative patterns on the right. See http://www.henryaltemus.com/images/NS_147.htm for more information.

Q: Hi, we have “The Chimes” marked 31 on the binding. No dates. Searched your blog with no luck. Can you tell us anything about it?
Thanks.

A: Your book is part of the Classics Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series166.htm

It was published in the 1909-early teens era. In fair shape without the dust jacket it has little value.

It startles me how often sellers on Ebay advertise their copies of Alice in Wonderland as if the books are made of solid gold. They describe them as rare editions and extremely valuable. The unfortunate reality is that this is very seldom the case.

Pictures shown here are examples from my collection.

The most commonly listed Alice’s on Ebay are from the Young People’s Library and virtually always one can find dozens of these editions for sale on Ebay and the various book search services.

Today there are fifteen Alice’s listed with pictures on Ebay. Six are from the Young People’s Library. Only one of those is from Format 1. It is accurately advertised as being an 1895 book and is listed at $250. Unfortunately half the pages are detached from the spine. I cannot imagine this book selling for anything in this shape.

The other five Alice’s listed from the Young People’s Library all state a publication date of 1897. This is the Altemus copyright date-not the date of publication. The books shown on Ebay were published between 1899 and 1920. They are priced between $95 (opening requested bid) and $519. One is rebound, several have major defects and none has a dust jacket. Without a dust jacket in great shape even $95 is just too much for a very common book.

For information about all the Altemus Alice’s see http://henryaltemus.com/alice/alice.htm.

In 1899 this publisher’s series of reprints was printed with a stereotypical design on the left half of the front cover and various flower/decorative pictures on the right half.

Today I am adding a new picture to 1899 book pictures. With this addition there are now 27 different right half of the cover flower pictures or decorative patterns.

To see them: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm

Q: Hello I just picked up this Black Beauty book, it has no date inside, a little girl wrote her name and date 1888. The inside reads Henry Altemus Philadelphia.
Was hope you knew more about it. Thank you.

A: Your book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series47.htm

It originally came within a labeled box. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

Q: Hello, I’m trying to find more information about my book (Hans Andersen’s Fairy Tales). I believe it is the Altemus 1918 non-series publication. Would this be considered a first edition? Please correct me if I’m wrong and give me any more information that I may be missing. Thank you!

A: It is the non series Altemus publication. Since all the stories have previously appeared in other books, I do not think it can be called a first edition. However, it probably can be called the “First Edition, thus”. It originally came with a dust jacket. It is of a similar format to Grimm’s Fairy Tales which was also published in 1918 See: http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_64.jpg

Q: Hi, I have a small blue “Poems” by Edgar Allan Poe book copyright 1895 by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia. Do you have any information regarding this book?

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series179.htm. During this year this series’ books came in a number of different colors. It originally was published with a labeled box. All the books in this series are reprints.

Q: Hi there, Another copy I couldn’t identify (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam). Pls help.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. As with all of the books in this series, it is a reprint.

It was published in 1905-1906 and originally came within a labeled box. I am including a picture of what the box looks like.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm for more information.

Henry Altemus published two editions of this book. The title page and size (8 x 5.75) of both editions is the same. The first edition has a gold gilt top with silver lettering. It has 192 pages whereas the second edition has 196 pages.

First Edition

Second Edition

Title Page

Colonel Lampton

William J. Lampton was a writer who wrote “Yawps” for the New York Sun. Yawps are basically humorous lengthy poems. Many of his New York Sun “Yawps” also appeared in this Henry Altemus Company published book.

Colonel Lampton was born in Ohio and began his newspaper career in Ashland, Kentucky. His career moved him through various newspapers including the Louisville Courier Journal, Cincinnati Merchant Traveler, Detroit Free Press among others. Lampton wrote several other books. He died suddenly in 1917 at the age of 58.