Henry Altemus Company

Classics Series

Ebay description:  Marmion Sir Walter Scott 1808 Pocket Book

Gorgeous little "pocket" book of the poetry of Sir Walter Scott, this is Marmion. Printed in 1808 by Henry Altemus Co. of Philadelphia, it has a wonderful embossed and gilded cover ...

The Reality:  Since Henry Altemus was not born until 1833, it is highly unlikely that the company he founded published this book 25 years before he was born. Actually this book is part of the Classics (Series #69) or the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series (#166)- which it changed its name to in 1909. These series were published between 1907 and 1921. The back ads as well as the jacket or box style would help in telling what year this book was printed in.

Popular Manuals

Ebay description:  Old RARE 1873 Book WHAT WOMEN SHOULD KNOW. Great old book, by Mrs. E.B. Duffey, copyright 1873 (with no indication it was published any later than that year) ...Philadelphia: Henry Altemus Co. Special Attributes: 1st Edition

The Reality:  Clearly the Henry Altemus Company publisher name indicates that this book was a post-1900 published book. The seller got the copyright correct just not the publisher. She argues that since the copyright was in 1873 that the book could not have been published later than 1890. Notwithstanding that the book was not originally copyrighted by Altemus, she does not understand that some publishers listed the much earlier copyrights of other publishers on the copyright page.

Wee Books for Wee Folks (third format)

Ebay description:  **RARE ORIGINAL 102 YEARS OLD "THE FOOLISH FOX" BOOK**
....... VERY OLD RARE BOOK. COPYRIGHT 1904 BY HENRY ALTEMUS. T........SINCE IT IS 102 YEARS OLD. ....... THIS PARTICULAR BOOK SELLS FOR OVER $125. 00 ON THE INTERNET.

The Reality:  This book was published after 1920 as a third format in the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. I have substituted a picture of my copy with their copy because the condition of their book was so poor.

The fact that this book is listed on the internet (ABE) for $125 is not really very relevant to its value. A listing price should not be confused with a "selling" price. Actually listings for this book on ABE range from $4.00 to $125. with the actual value based on a history of selling prices closer to $10-15. Anyone can list any book for any price on the internet.

Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series

Ebay description:  Original 1917 Altemus Peter Rabbit Series
Peter Rabbit's Christmas

The Reality:  This book was published between 1923-1926. The 1918-1920 Peter Rabbit Christmas books had red lettering. The blue end papers were seen between 1923-1926.

Beauxarts Series

Ebay description:  DREAM LIFE by IK MARVEL / MITCHELL ANTIQUE BOOK 1851
DREAM LIFE: A FABLE OF THE SEASONS
IK MARVEL/ DONALD G. MITCHELL
HENRY ALTEMUS PUBLISHER PHILADELPHIA.

There's no formal copyright I can find but there is the notation of, "H. A. 1842" on the page that I took a picture of. Wikipedia says it was written in 1851, though. In any case, it IS, at least 155 years old & it's in amazingly good condition! There are 296 pages. It measures: 6-1/4" x 4-1/2" x 3/4

The Reality:  This book was published in 1897 as part of of Beauxarts Series. The H.A. 1842 the seller refers to is seen on the title page within a design and indicates the year -1842- that H(enry) A(ltemus) started his company. See the section of the sample title page. Note the initials on the left and the date on the right. This title page frequently confuses people and causes Altemus books to be erroneously described as being published in 1842.

Vademecum Series

Ebay description:  This a hardcover book from 1887 written by Marietta Holley and published by Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia and copyright 1887 by Hubbard Brothers.

The Reality:  This book was published in 1904. Altemus did no reading books before 1890. As has been noted the Henry Altemus Company was incorporated in 1900. Prior to that the firm was known as Henry Altemus.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Ebay description:  Up for auction is a 1904 copy of the Three Little Pigs by Henry Altemus.
A lovely classic. This is a 1904 edition of the Three Little Pigs. There is also another story included in the book, Brave Little Taylor.

The Reality:  This is the third format of this book- not published with the paste-on cover until 1918.
From 1918-1920 the cover lettering was dark yellow. This lettering began in 1921. Thus, the earliest that this book could have been published was in 1921.

Sanspareil Series (later numbering)

Ebay description:  1895 Poe's Poems Altemus Small H.C. 1rst edition NR. B 6 1/2" by 4 1/4". Including the Raven. His poems written in youth, and Later poems, ect. Beautiful decorative book, Orange in color with green and chocolate colored flowers.

The Reality:  This is an 1899 edition of this book. It was part of Series #163-Sanspareil Series. This series consists of numerous reprinted works of fiction, poetry, religious books etc. Poe's Poems was a reprint even when Altemus came out with their first reprinted edition of it in 1895 as part of the Vademecum Series (#179).

Vademecum Series

Ebay description:  This book is titled The Vicar of Wakefield written by Oliver Goldsmith. It is a first edition published in 1894 by Henry Altemus.

The Reality:  Only a modicum of research would have told the seller that the first edition was published more than 200 years prior to this 1894 edition which was found in the Vademecum Series. Actually, this is not even the first Altemus edition. That book is in the Altemus Library published in 1892. (See bibliography)

Annapolis Series

Ebay description:  Dave Darrin's Third Year At Annapolis by H. Hancock First Edition/First Print Altemus' 1911

The Reality:  The first edition has red lettering. It does have the same cover though. I cannot determine what date this book was published without a look at the spine, ads and/or jacket.