Q: Hello Altemus Publishing,

Can you tell me about this book I have, “The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.” Copyright 1895 Henry Altemus.

The last page has the signature I included in the images.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900. It originally came with a labeled box.

During these years the books of this series had a stereotypical decoration on the left side of the cover. On the right side of the cover I have seen 27 different patterns (including your book’s). All of them are shown here on the website.

Your book is a reprint and only has nominal value even in the best shape.

Q: After my parents died, I found:

Our Animal Friends: One Hundred Illustrations
Henry Altemus Company

In the attic. I know it was published in the late 1800s. I would like to sell it, but I have no idea what it is worth. The cover is worn, but the pages are in excellent condition (some dusty fingermarks). I have searched the web, but I cannot find any reference to it. If you would like, I can send digital photos. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciate.

A: Your book belongs to the twelve book Mother Goose Series.

The book of this series came in one of three formats. Your book looks like it is a Format 1 book which was published in the 1903-1905 range.

These books originally came with dust jackets. An example is shown below. Without the jacket and in relatively poor shape, your book will be a hard sell at any price.

Q: Thank you so much for your time in reading my email and looking at what I have.

I have attached photos of Sheldon’s “In His Steps” published by the Henry Altemus Company. I’ve only come across one other book with this front cover online, and there was no value placed on it.

This particular book belongs to a very dear friend of mine who Kent it to me so that I could read it. It is a very good read! I wanted to return it to him with some background information on the value. I’ve seen prices of the same title but different publishers range from $3 to over $400. Any information you might be able to give me would be greatly appreciated.

A: Your book was published 1901-1902 as part of the Petit Trianon Series.

During this year all of the books in this series had the same lady on the left side of the cover and any one of sixteen different flowers on the right half.

This book originally came within a labeled box.

Most of these reprints have very little value unless the title is a special one. So it is unlikely you would get more than a few dollars for your book.

Generally the prices you see online are not overly helpful. The first editions always sell for a lot but after that people are just trying to get what they can of the reprints.

Q: I own two Ralph Waldo Emerson Book of Essays which came in First Series and a Second Series. They have a green cover with a silver trimming around the cover and have a date written inside of them as if they were a gift to someone in 1895. I ws hoping that you could give me some more information regarding the books. What year were these books published? Also how much these books might be worth? I haven’t been able to find these books online to compare too. Your help would be greatly appreciated. I have attached a few photos of the book for you to look at. thank you so much.

A: Your books are part of the Vademecum Series and were published in 1894.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. During 1894 the books of this series had various cover colors. Some variations are shown below.

Unfortunately because this title is not in great demand by collectors, these books will probably not sell for more than a few dollars.

Q: Hello. I was hoping you would be able to tell me a bit about some books I have. There are 3 and from what I gather based on your website, they are part of a collection of writings pub. by Altemus.

There is some water damage to one of the books and there is an inscription written on all three of the books by the owned and dated 1903.

A: Henry Altemus published a 39 book series of Shakespeare’s works beginning in 1899. The individual volumes are very common. The set initially came in a labeled box.

There were eight different formats during the publication history of the set.

Looking at your books it is clear they were published after 1900 since the imprint is Henry Altemus Company (and Altemus incorporated in 1900).

Beyond that the key distinguishing features for your books are whether the endpapers are plain or decorated and if the books are made of hard leather or limp leather.

The formats are clearly described at Shakespeare’s Plays.

In regards to value, without the dust jackets or without a full a set in a box, the books only have nominal value.