Q: I found this book (Knickerbocker’s History of New York) while cleaning out my mother’s home. Copyright date is 1899. What can you tell me about it? Sorry pictures aren’t very good. I had to use my cell phone.

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm) and was published in 1899. This series consisted of reprints of fiction, poetry, essays, classics, etc. It originally came in a labeled box. It only has nominal value.