Q: Could you folks give a publishing date for this book (Emerson’s Essays). The title page states first series. Thanks.

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.

During this year any one of more than 40 paste-on pictures have been seen on the cover. This cover was published in a number of different colors. It was originally sold with a labeled box.

Some 1901 examples are shown below.

Q: My father just passed away and I found this book (Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas) amongst his belongings and I was wondering about this book due to its age and the little research I did online about it. Can you shed some light on it?

A: Your book is part of the Young People’s Library. This series was published from 1895 to 1933. This book is part of Format 1 which was published between 1895 and 1898. Each format has a characteristic spine decoration. The Format 1 spine is shown below.

The Format 1 books with this title have been seen with two different cover illustrations and in several different colors. They are shown below. The edition of your book can be determined by examining the ads in the front and the back and looking at the website information. http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202F1.htm

The Format 1 books are slightly smaller (6.5 x 5) than the Format 2-4 books.

Q: Greetings, I am curious about this little copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland published by your company. There is no publication date, but the date 1903 is handwritten in the front. There is also an extensive catalog of other books for sale in the back of the book.

The book has all of the original black and white illustrations. It is in good shape. The binding is intact with no torn, damaged or missing pages.

I have been unable to locate any other copies to compare it to. If you could give me any information, e.g., possible worth, publication information, and/or any other insights I would be very grateful.

A: Your book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series.
It originally came within a labeled box. It is, of course, a reprint but has all of the original text by Lewis Carroll.

Alice books are widely collected and although it is one of a myriad of reprints published during this era, there may be an Alice collector who just has to have this format. The only way to determine the worth is probably by putting it up for auction (on Ebay for example) and see what happens. You just never know.

Altemus published several different non series Robinson Crusoe’s. (http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_121.htm)

The last format was published in the 1920’s. Today I am adding the dust jacket for this book. As has been mentioned before, virtually every Altemus published book originally was sold with a dust jacket or within a labeled box.

Dating Altemus books can be very difficult. Sometimes only a range can be determined. The book below was published in 1922 or later. The evidence is seen at the base of the copyright page. When there is a notice on an Altemus publication that states: “Printed in the United States of America”, the book was published in 1922 or later.

Q: I am having a hard time finding information on this book and was hoping for some insight and value of possible. Thank you. Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

A: Your book is part of the Waistcoat Pocket Series.

It is Format 3 in that series and was published between 1911 and 1921.
It originally came in a labeled box.

It only has nominal value.