Q: I am researching a lot of old books and came across this one (Black Beauty). Most books that I have are from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. This book doesn’t have a copyright page. So I have no idea what year it is from. Can you help me identify it? I am looking to sell these books and would really appreciate any info.

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. All the titles in this multivolume, multi author series are reprints. The picture on the cover is one of more than 40 European paintings that were used as cover decorations. See http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

This book only has nominal value.

Altemus produced photographic albums between 1862 and the late 1890’s. In 1863 it became the assignee of a patent for a special hinged back design so that the pages could lay flat. Albums were manufactured in several different sizes. They were one, two or four pictures per page.

Here is an album which has 25 leafs each containing four photographs per side. Thus, this album held 200 pictures.

Note that the design allowed the owner to have his/her name engraved on the front cover.

See http://henryaltemus.com/albums/photoalbums.htm

Q: Could you please give me any info about my book (The Children’s Shakespeare) published in 1900 thank you

A: Your book is part of the Dainty Series.

It is a Format 3 book and was published between 1903-1905. It originally came with a dust jacket.

It is relatively common and only has nominal value.

The other formats are shown below:

Format 2 1900-1902

Format 4 1906-1908

Format 5 1908-1909

Format 3 of this series (1818-1933) had the familiar book appropriate appliqué on the cover with the matching dust jacket. In 1928-1929 there was a variant format published. The appliqué on this edition encompassed the entire front cover of the book. It is basically identical to the dust jacket. This format is much more uncommon then the usual Format 3 books.

Here is an example of that 1928-1929 variant cover along the the much more commonly found edition.

Today I am adding a dust jacket variant to Format 3 of this series. (Young People’s Library)

This new book with the brown color has a white coated dust jacket. Based on the back ads this book dates from 1922. This is the last year that Format 3 books were published.

The book with the green color has a brown uncoated dust jacket. Based on the ads this book is from 1912.

The six volume Automobile Girls Series were published in three formats. The first format has the uncommonly seen brown uncoated dust jackets.

Throughout the first format printings the front of the dust jacket remained unchanged. The spines and reverses however went through some modifications.

Front of the jacket

The spines:

This spine was published between early 1910 and later 1910. First edition for the first three books.

This spine was published between late 1910 and 1913. First edition for books #4-6.

This spine was published in early 1914 and perhaps early 1915.

The reverse of the jacket is really the key to the editions.

Note that the prices of the books are $1.00 and Volume 1 of the High School Girls Is “To Be Published Shortly”. This jacket is an early 1910 production and the first edition jacket reverse of the first three Automobile Girls Books.

This reverse goes with the first edition spine.

Note the differences in this, the second edition reverse, and the first. The books are now priced at 50 cents and the High School Girls book is not pending. This reverse goes with the second spine.

This reverse is the 1912-1913 reverse and the first edition for volumes 4 and 5.
It goes with the second spine.

This reverse is noted with 1914-1915 books and the second spine.
First edition reverse for Volume #6.

This jacket reverse has been seen with the second and third spines and was also published in the 1915 time frame.