This three book series was published between 1914 and 1932. Interestingly although this book was published no earlier than 1924, it has an uncoated brown colored dust jacket. This is clearly uncommon since generally the uncoated jackets were not seen after 1914.

See: With Christ Series

This series was published between 1901 and 1912. There were five different formats. The first two formats have stereotyped decorative patterns on the left half of the cover and one of sixteen flowers pictured on the right half. Format 2 covers have been seen with left sided decorative patterns in red or white. The red cover is much more scarce.

Today I am adding to the database a fifth “red” Format 2 cover. Ten white covers are pictured on the website for the series: Love and Friendship Series.

This ten book series has six different formats. The most commonly seen is #5. The covers of these books have a line drawn biblical city surrounding a book appropriate multicolored pictorial appliqué picture. Today I am adding a picture of the fifth book’s dust jacket.

For other pictures see Beautiful Stories Series

Q: Hi, I recently purchased this book from a little book store. I collect Alice in Wonderland books. Could you tell me a bit more about it and what its approximate worth is? Through the Looking Glass

A: Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. This 15 book series was published between 1908 and 1926 and originally came within a labeled box. The boxes have a colorful floral design.

The text is the same as the previously published books from the Young People’s Library.

A complete review of all of the Altemus Alice’s can be found here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/alice/alice.htm

If you are not already a member, you might want to check out the Lewis Carroll Society of North America. They publish a newsletter which is very informative. http://www.lewiscarroll.org/publications/knightletter/

Generally, a close approximation to the date of publication can be determined by a review of the ads in the back of the book.

The Lewis Carroll books in this series generally sell for between $10-25.

Altemus Published this title four times. 1893, 1895, 1896 and 1900. Although the covers of each edition are different, the 320 pages of text are identical. Each book is 7 x 4.5.

1893		1895
1896		1900

The Altemus books are reprints. The first edition was published by J. M. Stoddart and Co. in 1873. Other reprints by the Fireside Publishing House, J. S. Goodman and Co., Queen City Publishing Co., and later editions by Stoddart were all published prior to the Altemus editions.

Mrs. E.(Eliza) B. (Bisbee) Duffey was an author who concentrated on women’s rights and issues. Abortion, equal education rights, advice for mothers are some of her favorite issues and topics.

Reprints from as recently as 1974 are noted. This is a puzzler since the information in the book is totally out of date, inaccurate and in some instances bizarre. There is a section on the treatment of a youngster with seizures. As a neurologist I can absolutely state that the instructions are as silly as they are worthless. Most of the other proclamations about inheritance, diseases, etc. are of interest historically but not of much value today.