Here is the dust jacket for book #6 in this series: Miss Appolina’s Choice. Two different covers have been seen as of this time. The basic cover picture is the same but the books have different colors and one of the covers has gold gilt. The interior/text of the books is identical.

The earlier versus the later editions can be identified. It is easy with the dust jacket. The earlier dust jacket has no colors. It is only in black and the background brown. The later dust jackets list eleven titles from this series on the reverse. If there is gold gilt on the cover, it is an earlier edition.

Also the earlier books are 7.125 x 5.125. The later books are 6.75 x 5.

Q: I would appreciate it if you could provide info on our Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Attached are photos of the cover and cover pages.

A: This book is part of the World’s Classics Series. The ten book series of reprints was published between 1912 and 1916. All the limp velvet books originally came in a labeled box. The velvet has been seen in brown, green and red.

In this condition it has no monetary value.

Q: Can you tell me the history of this book? Thanks

A: Your book is a part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899.

During this series publication history, every year there was a new cover. This one is the 1899 format.

In 1899 the left half of the cover remained constant while the right side had numerous different decorative patterns. I have seen 27 up to this point.

These books originally came in a labeled box. (An example is shown below.)

All of the books in this series are reprints. Thus, only special collectible titles have more than nominal value.

This series of four 8 vo. books was published between 1915 and 1933. Book #4 Little Black Sambo was only published in 1931 in one format (Format 4).
The other three books:
1. The Tale of Peter Rabbit
2. Three Little Pigs
3. The Little Small Red Hen

were published in three different formats. All originally had dust jackets which are fairly hard to find.

Here are examples of each format:
Format 1- Line drawn illustration on the front cover.

Format 2- Front cover appliqué has a book appropriate color illustration. The cover illustration is a duplicate of an internal picture.
This book says Printed in the United of America on the title page. This indicates a post-1922 publication.

Format 3- This format has a full cover pictorial color appliqué which is not a duplicate of an internal picture.
This book says Printed in the United of America on the title page. This indicates a post-1922 publication.

For more on this series see: Juvenile Quartos

Q: I have THE SONG OF HIAWATHA book from my Grandfather. Could you please tell me any information you have so that I may pass it & the book on to my son. On the top right of the inside cover NO – 58 is written. Thank you.

A: Your book was published in 1901. It is part of the 131 volume La Belle Fleur Series.

It originally came with a dust jacket. (An example is shown below)

As with all the the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

We Three and Troddles by R. Andom (pseudonym of Alfred Walter Barrett (1869-1920))- 1895

This title was first published in England. Fat Troddles and his buddies (Lean Wilks, Merry Murray and Veracious Andom) spend their time playing practical jokes and instigating various misadventures. The first English edition was published in London by Tylston and Edwards in 1894. It was illustrated by Alec Carruthers Gould (1870-1948) with silhouette illustrations.

Henry Altemus published only the first Troddles book (7.5 x 5). It has 242 pages and had a dust jacket which has not been seen. There were more than ten sequels published between 1894 and 1920, none of which were published by Altemus.

Alfred Walter Barrett using the pseudonym of R. Andom was a well known writer of humorous fiction and works of fantasy. He wrote many serials for English boy’s papers in addition to more than fifty books. There is a question about Barrett’s later years and the actual date of his death which is discussed here: http://bearalley.blogspot.com/2009/01/alfred-walter-barrett.html.

The Golden Year Annual– 1929
This oversized (11 x 8.75) more than 100 page book is comprised of numerous stories and poems for youngsters. It has illustrated endpapers.

A number of different authors and illustrators contributed.

The list includes Fred Spurgin, Winifred Barham, N. E. Tuckett, Freda Isabel Noble, B. Gower, Hyman W. Perlzweig, M. M. Gell, T. Parlett, May Gladwin and others. There are line drawn illustrations as well as full page color pictorial pictures. The stories and poems have no author attribution. Some of the illustrations are signed whereas others are not.

This is one of the rarest of Altemus books. It undoubtedly came with a dust jacket but as of yet I have not seen it.

Q: Hello. Here is a lovely little book (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam). I’d love to know more about it and any value it may have. Many of the pages are uncut. Gilt on cover and top of pages is in wonderful condition. Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia on the inside. More pics available from every angle if wanted.
Thanks.

A: Your book is part of the Poems We Love Series. This ten book series was published between 1912-1915. The books are bound in limp velvet calf and have been seen in green or brown. When originally sold it came in a labeled box. A picture of the box is below.

The titles are all reprints, not especially collectible and thus have only nominal value (despite the very fine condition of your book).

Q: Hello I am sending 3 pics of this book (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) I have acquired. I cannot locate another like it. Would you be so kind as to identify, date and any other info.
Much appreciated

A: This 1916 book came in two different formats. The earlier books have illustrated endpapers and a color picture opposite of the title page. The later books have plain endpapers and a tipped in picture opposite of the title page. It measures 11.25 x 8.5.

This is one of the scarcest Altemus Alice formats. Certainly it is many times rarer than the Alice’s of the Young People’s Library. In my opinion, it is also a much nicer book. http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_4.htm

It came in a labeled box (which has not been seen).

Pictures of the endpapers are shown. They have been darkened to help with visualization.

Q: Hi, I stumbled upon this copy of Uncle Tom’s Cabin but unfortunately I’ve been unable to find any information on it. Can you give me any info you have on it, should I keep it, does it have any value, and if so where would I sell it. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated and thanks for your time.

A: This book was published in 1901 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came within a labeled box. It is one of a myriad of reprints of this title that were done by the reprint publishers of the era. It has little value.

This 1901 Altemus format has been seen with many color covers. More than forty paste-on (appliqués) pictures have been noted. See: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

For interest some other 1901 books are shown.