Monthly Archives: March 2016

Question & Answer Series 58 Boys and Girls Classics

Q: My daughter found this at estate sale in Michigan. (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland) It is a withdrawn copy from Saginaw library. In the back the Vademecum, Young People’s Library and Historical Series are listed. What would be the estimated publication date?

A: This book is from the Boys and Girls Classics Series. These books were published between 1899-1906. Your volume could not have been an 1899 issue since Altemus incorporated in 1900 and your book noted Henry Altemus Company on the title page.

Thus it was published between 1900 and 1906. It can be dated exactly by using the flow chart on the website and the advertisements in the back of your volume.

The titles in this series are all reprints and originally came within a labeled box, an example of which is shown below.

Question & Answer Series 180 Vademecum Series

Q: Poe’s Poems… absolutely no dates??? Hope you can help… 1000 thanks.

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

Each year to two the cover changed and was characteristic for that year. In 1904 the covers were seen in a number of different colors and there were four different flower appliques. Your book’s flower is Queen Anne’s Lace.

The 1904 volumes came within a labeled box. An example is shown below.

Question & Answer Series 63 Children of the Bible Series

Q: Hello there! Thank you for your valuable time! I have a book that is identified in the list of Altemus Illustrated Children of the Bible Series. Copyright 1905 by Henry Altemus Printed in the United States.(The Boy Who Obeyed). The Story of Isaac by J.H. Willard. On one page it says Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. On the next page it says Copyright, 1905 By Henry Altemus. It is a hard back cover. The picture of this book is in the list on the web site listed as Format # 5 , volume # 1. It has no dust cover sort of speak. It just has the hard back cover identical to Format # 5, volume # 1. Please email me back with any information you can give me on this nice book. Any idea what it maybe worth, or where one can possibly sell it.

A: This ten book series was quite popular during its production run. There were five formats all of which came with dust jackets. Presently however these books are not hard to find and not very collectible and thus have minimal value.

The formats are shown below.

For more information see Children of the Bible Series


Format 1

Format 1a

Format 2

 


Format 3

Format 3a

Format 4

Question & Answer Series 141 Petit Trianon Series

Q: I have a Scarlet Letter book by Altemus Publishing with jacket cover matching 1899-1900 picture you show. It is in good condition as cover is good w/ fraying on bottom right. Inside page has name to whom book was given (Ella M. Parsons) and the contents page up to page 12 describing The Custom-House are separated from the binding.

My question to you: Is there any value to this book?

A: This book is from the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1897.

Originally it did not have a dust jacket but was sold within a labeled box.

This format has the stereotyped left front cover dot design. The right half of the cover has been seen with 14 different flower designs as of this date but more probably exist. Some are shown.

Your book is a reprint and has nominal value.

Question & Answer Series 110 In His Name Series

Q: Back in 2007 my ex husband and I bought a house in North Brookfield Massachusetts and we were remodeling and in one of the walls we torn down found this book (Jessica’s Mother) in it I was wondering if you had any information about this I have attached photos hopefully it helps thank you.

A: I believe your book is from the In His Name Series.

Your book is from the first format of this series. In this format the right half of the cover had one of 16 flower pictures. A better picture of an example of this cover is shown below.

Unfortunately it is in terrible shape. If you are wondering if you have discovered a hidden treasure (as everyone hopes for), this book is not it. In this condition it has no monetary value.

Question & Answer Series 99 Golden Treasury Series

Q: I’m trying to track this book (Drummond’s Addresses). It has copyrights and signatures dating between 1891 and 1927. According to my research, it wasn’t originally published until 1894, and I can’t find this particular cover. I also can’t find a series number.

A: Your book is part of the Golden Treasury Series, Format 2 and was published in 1899-1900.

This format was published with several color covers.