Antrim wrote nine books for this series. Each book contains a number of pithy aphorisms. The various formats for these books can be seen on this page for the Jester Life Series as well as the individual pages for the non series versions of these titles.

Today I am adding a new cover picture for The Wisdom of the Foolish and The Folly of the Wise. It is the later format with non gold gilt lettering (red) and board covers. The interesting thing about this book is that is is signed. “A little nonsense now and then is relished by the best of men” and women- M. J. A. Christmas 1919.

Minna Thomas Antrim (1861-1850). She was born in Philadelphia and educated at St. Mary’s Hall in New Jersey. She is known for her numerous quotes and sayings, many of which appeared in her Altemus published books. Perhaps her best known quote is: Experience is a great teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

Q: I’m writing to you about a book that I have in hopes that you can help me. I have a copy of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell by Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. I found the picture on your website showing it to be 1922. I’m intrigued by your website and hope to eliminate myself from ever being one of your listings about errors on EBAY. I really want to be an informed seller.
Thank you for any information or pricing that you can provide to me.

A: Your book is indeed a 1922 Altemus publication of Black Beauty. It is not part of a series. It originally was published with a dust jacket which matches the front cover of the book.
See a picture at http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_23.htm

It does not have much value but you can determine that with an auction on Ebay.

I am frequently asked about the scarcest Altemus books. Obviously the non series books which I have not ever seen are extremely uncommon.

Of the series books, among the toughest to find are the books of this series (Handbooks for Animal Owners).
The three books:
The Horse by F.T. Barton
The Dog by F. T. Barton
The Cat by Mrs. Leslie Williams

All three were published in 1908.

I have a copy of The Cat. It is shown below. I thought I would take a look at it since we have recently added a couple of new family members. The book is woefully out of date as, I suppose, would be suspected. With chapters on tuberculosis, strange potions for various skin and gastric ailments and treatments for worms based on turn of the century cures, the book has little medical value. Chapters about various breeds are quite interesting however.

Sammy and Ollie

Margaret McDonald Bottome (1827-1906) authored two non series Altemus books: King’s Daughters’ Yearbook (1906)-First edition and Crumb’s from the King’s Table (1907)-Reprint.

See http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_83.htm

She was born in New York. Bottome was educated at Prof. Greenleaf’s School in Brooklyn Heights. She founded in 1886 and at the time of her death in 1906 was President of the International Order of King’s Daughters. Later the name was changed to Daughters and Sons. This organization was started as a study group by ten women who came together for “self-improvement and Christian Service”. Each of the ten women formed another group of ten women and in this the membership grew to more than half million people.

By 1896, there were branch organizations in 26 states and most European countries.

Bottome wrote a regular column in the Ladies’ Home Journal.