Q: Hello, I am trying to locate the value of this book. It is in excellent condition. Since it wasn’t dated I was able to find that information on your website. Which was very helpful. I haven’t been able to find its value. Can you help me?

A: Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series.

It was published in 1898. Several different color patterns have been seen. They are shown below.

All of the titles within this series are reprints and have little value.

Q: is this book (A Christmas Carol) worth anything? #34 looks nice, small

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1912-1913.

It is a reprint.

A hardcore Dicken’s fan might pay $10-20 but otherwise it would sell for just a few dollars.

Q: I have a hard cover copy of The Song of Hiawatha with a different cover than any you show here. It is beautiful and in excellent condition with gold details and red carnations on the cover. Does that mean it was published later that 1898? The gift message inside is dated 1907. Thank you for your time!

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1907. The acorn pattern surrounded one of four different flowers. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

It was originally published within a labeled box. A picture of the box is shown below.

It only has nominal value.

Today I am adding new dust jacket pictures of Mother Nature Stories.

Determining the edition of this book can be done rather easily.

First note that the dust jacket is the brown uncoated type. This indicates a pre-1915 printing.

The first edition of this volume lists only six books on the reverse of the jacket. This book lists 10 titles (1909-1915). The third printing has a white coated jacket (post-1915). Thus this book is from the second printing.

Without the dust jacket determining the edition is much more difficult. The first edition lists only six books in the Mother Stories whereas the later editions list ten titles. The earlier books show a 50 cent price whereas the later books have $1.00 listed.

This series of twelve titles had four different formats. One Syllable Series

Today I am adding a new Format 4 dust jacket picture to the database. This is book #12.

This book was part of Formats 2, 3, and 4. The evolution of the formats is shown below.

Format 2	Format 3	Format 4

The first format of the Young People’s Library has a characteristic spine as noted here:

Book #12 Mother Goose’s Rhymes and Jingles is the only exception I have seen until now.

Here is Book #6 Child’s Life of Christ with a blank spine. Note the usual spine on the same title.

Both of these books are the earliest 1895 format based on the ads seen in the front.

This blank spine book may be just a print error or it is possible it is the earliest Format 1 style and that as of yet no other blank spine books have been seen.

Q: I have a book called “Christian Living” written by F.B. Meyer and have attached a picture of cover and a few pages in the book. It has a green cover with flowers on front. There is an inscription on one of the front pages that says “Presented To Henry Bush Christmas 1906”. I have been looking for a book like this on the internet for quite a while and have yet to find one. I’m hoping that you can help me with a few questions. It does not have a publish date and I also wonder if you can tell me what the value may be on it. I am interested in selling it but want to make sure I put the right price on it.

A: Your book is from the Golden Treasury Series and was published in 1899.

Although it has a nice decorated cover and is in good shape, it will be hard to sell for more than a few dollars. There is very little demand for this title.

Of interest is that the cover was published in several different colors. They are shown below.

Q: I have a set of William Shakespeare books published in 1891. It says set of four original binding. I’m just curious about their history. Some of the information provided on your site doesn’t seem to match my books.

A: This four volume set of Shakespeare’s Works can be found here: Non Series #127. The set originally came within a box which was sold for $5.00.

This set is not nearly as common as the 31 volume set published between 1899-1930’s. See Shakespeare’s Plays.

Your set seems to be very similar if not exactly the same as the one shown on the website.

Q: Herewith find photo attached of cover of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Binding is intact, all pages are attached to binding.
Please kindly advise if you wish to purchase or can recommend how much to ask and where to offer to sell.
Thank you

A: This book was published in 1904 in the Vademecum Series. This year’s books were published in a number of different colors. There were four flower patterns noted.

Since all of the titles in this series are reprints, only certain very collectible titles have any value. Your title is not within this select group and thus will be hard to sell for more than a few dollars.

Here are the flower pictures.

Q: Hello, I sent you this email a few days ago, before posting this book on eBay, but I think you may not have received it via Outlook, so I’m trying again.

I can’t seem to find this floral binding with its beautifully decorated front and rear boards, and spine, for Bab Ballads anywhere on your outstanding, invaluable Web site.

So it’s up on eBay now, and I’d appreciate any information you can give me on it.

Thanks so much!

A: I did not receive your previous email. Sorry.
Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896. A sample book cover is shown on that page.

Your title is a reprint and has nominal value only.