Q: I have a copy of the Scarlet Letter published by the Henry Altemus Publishing Company and My late Uncle thought it was published about 1850. It is in very good shape.
Thanks

A: Actually your book was published in 1904. The early date is on the preface which Altemus reprinted.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

When Altemus reprinted the classics, it frequently reprinted the entire text including the preface. Thus, it is easy to confuse the date of publication with the date on the preface.

It has only nominal value.