Q: Just curious if this book is a collector and its value. Thank you for any information you can give me. Jessica’s First Prayer

A: Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series.

This series included 40 titles all of which are reprints. It was published between 1899 and 1906.

Two formats have been noted. One with the gold gilt decoration on the cover (your book) and one without. It is shown below.

On the website there is a flowchart which can help you to exactly date your book. Except for a few desirable titles, most of these books have little value. Your book is in poor shape so it would be a hard sell.

Q: I have a book, “Treasure Island” that I was hoping you could tell me about; worth, dated printed, etc. There is no page with this information on it. I have attached a photo of the book.

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900.

The covers in this year were published in a number of colors. See below.

It originally came within a labeled box. All the books in this series, including yours, are reprints.

In average condition it will be hard to sell for more than a couple of dollars.

Q: When was this book published (Little Lame Prince)?

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1907.

These books originally came within a labeled box. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

Q: Hello! I am attaching a few photos of a copy of Grimms Fairy Tales that I recently came across in an old book store here locally. Title page says Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia and on the back side of that it says Copyright 1898 by Henry Altemus (below). There is no dust jacket. Front cover, as you can see from the photo, has two kids in a wagon. They are being pulled by a donkey, but all you can see from the pic is the donkey’s butt lol! They look very 20’s or 30’s style animation, so I guess it is a later printing, esp since on your site it said if the title page said Henry Altemus Company on it, the book prob dates after 1900. I could not however, find a book that looked the same as this one on your site anywhere. Was trying to find out what series/printing it was. I took a photo of the front cover (again, no dust jacket), title page, and copyright page. Hopefully that will help. Can you give me any more info about it? Not at all concerned with value, as it has no dust jacket and is not in great shape…I just think old books are interesting 🙂

A: Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series.

The books of this 15 title series all have the same text as the earlier published titles in the Young People’s Library. They were published between 1908 and 1926. The date can be determined by studying the book ads in the back.

These books have pictorial linen covers that are made from large swatches. The books originally were sold within labeled floral covered boxes. See the representative picture.

Q: I’m wondering if you can tell me anything about this book (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) the picture is of the cover and the publisher page thank you.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1907. It originally came within a labeled box. All of the 117 titles in this series are reprints. During this year the acorn picture cover had four different flower appliqués. The other flowers in addition to a representative box are shown here.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.