Q: HI, I was wondering if you could tell me anything about the attached book?
Two Years Before the Mast
Thank you so much!!

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1895.

This particular 1895 cover has been seen in several different covers. See below.

It is a reprint (as are all of the titles in this series) and has nominal value.

Henry Altemus Company published three non-series formats of this title. It was published in series form in numerous series.

For the series versions look here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/search/titlesearch.php?q=black+Beauty&Submit=Go.

Format 1 – 1915 Octavo Version
This 8.5″ x 6″ book has been seen in two colors. The cover has a 4.5 x 3.5 appliqué picture of Black Beauty which is identical to the frontispiece. There are 16 unattributed illustrations on glossy paper. The book has 250 pages of text. The endpapers have book appropriate line drawn illustrations. This book came with a dust jacket but it has not been seen as of yet. This volume cost $2.00.

Format 2 1922
This 250 page 7.5″ x 5.25″ book has a dust jacket which has the same picture as the front cloth cover. The frontispiece illustration is on glossy paper but all of the unattributed internal line drawn black and white illustrations are on plain paper. This book cost $1.00.

Format 3 1930
This 7.5″ x 5″ 250 page book has blue cloth with a full page appliqué on the front cover. The frontispiece illustration is on glossy paper but all of the unattributed internal illustrations are line drawn black and white on plain paper. The internal illustrations are the same as are found in the Format 2 book. A dust jacket for this book exists but has not been seen. The endpapers are on brown paper.

In 1930 Altemus published a number of titles with reinforced library buckram bindings. These books all had the brown endpapers. This book is one of them. It cost $1.25.

See also Non Series #23

Q: Hi. I was wondering if you could give me some idea of about when this edition was published? Any other information you could give based on the picture would be appreciated as well. Twice Told Tales

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1895-1896. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

The cover of this format was published with a stereotypical acorn pattern on the left half of the cover and a decorative pattern on the right half. Presently I have seen twelve different decorative patterns (including this one). See below.

This book is a reprint (as are all of the titles in this series) and has only nominal value.

Three formats of this title were published. All are 6″ x 4.5″. They are textually identical and unpaginated with four glossy illustrations.

The first format was published in 1908. This $1.25 book had a full Persian levant cover. It has not been seen.

A second format is full leather and boxed. It was published between 1909 and 1927. This book initially cost $1.25. In 1925 the price was $1.50.

A third format in green cloth is shown below. The date of publication and price are unknown.

See also Non Series #74

This little 6″ x 4.5″ book was published with five different editions. I am adding another third edition book cover picture to the website.

See also Non Series #45

Q: I am trying to figure out the date this book by Robert Louis Stevenson was published. The title is “Treasure Island” and the authors name is spelled Stephenson instead of Stevenson. It is small, about 6 1/4″ tall. The cover is green predominately with gilt on the flowery designs. I think it may be about 1886, but am not sure.

A: This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1898.

It is a reprint as are all of the titles in this series. During this year this cover was published in several different colors. Some examples are shown below.

Q: Trying to find out the value of the 1915 non series Octavo Edition of Black Beauty. I have attached 2 pictures for you to see its condition.
Also, I am curious to know how many of these books were printed and/or sold.

A: This Black Beauty reprint was published by Altemus in 1915. As opposed to most of the Altemus Black Beauty books, this one is not part of a series.

I have seen this format in this dark blue color as well as an orange cover color. See below:

It originally was published with a dust jacket which I have not seen as of yet. I would estimate this book’s value to be between $15-40 depending on condition. A jacketed book would be worth more.

Q: I have a copy of Kavanagh and was trying to place exactly what set this is part of and would welcome any details you can provide me with. Thank you.

A: Your book was published in 1899 and was part of the Vademecum Series.

All of the books in this series are reprints. During 1899 the covers in this series had a number of different colors. Some are shown below.

It originally came within a labeled box.

Q: I volunteer at a small rural library and wondered if this book has value. Little Bo-Peep

A: This book is part of the eight title Bo-Peep Series.

These books are all reprints and originally came with a dust jacket. A sample jacket from this series is shown below.

Unfortunately without a dust jacket the books in this series only have nominal value.

Q: I read about this series on your site. It’s a great site! Picked this up at an estate sale.
A Dream of Fair Women. Can you estimate the value?

A: This book is part of Format 3 of the ten volume Waistcoat Pocket Series. These little 4.5″ x 3′ books originally came within labeled box. An example is shown below.

These reprints only have nominal value.