Q: I am trying to find out the possible value range of an antique book that once belonged to my grandmother, entitled Poe’s Poems. I believe it is a first edition, and strangely, it has no publication date printed within it anywhere. It does appear at the back of the book under the list of “Publications of Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia” as number “…159 Poe’s Poems” under the heading “Altemus’ New Illustrated Vademecum Series.” I am attaching multiple photos of the book…sorry that my phone’s camera is not very good.

I would appreciate any info. you can provide.

A: Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. Originally it was sold within a labeled box.

The cover is interesting because of the illustration on the right which was drawn by Alphonse Mucha, a well known Czech artist. It is called “Poetry”.

Several Altemus formats feature Mucha drawings.

Ordinarily it might be worth a few dollars, but in this shape it has no monetary value.