Altemus and Company mainly served as a book bindery in the mid 1800’s (1840-1860’s). Although some of the Altemus bound books are easily identified because the Altemus name is seen on the cover or noted within the book, most often the Altemus name is nowhere to be found on an Altemus bound book.

Below is a review from Sartain’s Magazine in 1849. It is noted here that Altemus did the binding on this edition of this book. Below see the beautifully designed cover. Careful examination does show similarities between this ornamental design and that seen on another 1850 book (Leaflets of Memory) published by E.H. Butler. (See http://henryaltemus.com/publications/bindery.htm)

Without the notation in Sartain’s Magazine, this example of the Altemus Bindery would have gone unnoticed.