Henry Altemus Company

Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series

Ebay description:  Peter Rabbit's Christmas 1917 1st Graham, Duff rare

The Reality:  The ads tell the story. The last book listed on the Peter Rabbit list on the back of the jacket - Peter Rabbit, Jack-the-Jumper and the Old Witch Woman was published in 1923. Thus, this book at its earliest was published 6 years after the first edition. More specifically, the first edition cover lettering was red not dark green.

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.

World's Classics Series

Ebay description:  Printing Year: 1880 "The Thoughts of The Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus" translated by George Long. The softcovered book measures 4-1/2 x 6-1/2 inches with a total of 318 pages. The book is not dated, but from circa 1880's to 1890's. It was published by the Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia.

The Reality:  This series was published between 1912-1916. Again the most common Altemus description error involves dating books. Sellers just guess instead of attempting to do quality research.

Young People's Library

Ebay description:  It startles me how often sellers on Ebay advertise their copies of Alice in Wonderland as if the books are made of solid gold. They describe them as rare editions and extremely valuable. The unfortunate reality is that this is very seldom the case.

Pictures shown here are examples from my collection.

The most commonly listed Alice's on Ebay are from the Young People's Library and virtually always one can find dozens of these editions for sale on Ebay and the various book search services.

Today there are fifteen Alice's listed with pictures on Ebay. Six are from the Young People's Library. Only one of those is from Format 1. It is accurately advertised as being an 1895 book and is listed at $250. Unfortunately half the pages are detached from the spine. I cannot imagine this book selling for anything in this shape.

The Reality:  The other five Alice's listed from the Young People's Library all state a publication date of 1897. This is the Altemus copyright date-not the date of publication. The books shown on Ebay were published between 1899 and 1920. They are priced between $95 (opening requested bid) and $519. One is rebound, several have major defects and none has a dust jacket. Without a dust jacket in great shape even $95 is just too much for a very common book.

For information about all the Altemus Alice's see http://henryaltemus.com/alice/alice.htm.

Young People's Library

Ebay description:  If there were an Ebay book police patrol, they would be incredibly busy just with the Altemus listings. As this Altemus blog continues, I will try to only post the most outrageous examples. As previously compiled approximately 40% of Altemus book listings have a significant error (most commonly date of publication or edition error).

This particular book listed by the seller is often described incorrectly and frequently overpriced.

The seller headlines his ad with this:

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND-1897-L. CARROLL-NF-
PREVIOUSLY MUSEUM OWNED ITEM WITH PROVIDENCE

I won’t quibble that he probably means provenance (a record of the ownership of the book) rather than Providence (A city in Rhode Island or the protective care of God)

Special Attributes: 1st Edition
Printing Year: 1897
Buy It Now price: US $349.99

The Reality:  A quick glance at the book tells us a couple of things. First it is definitely a Young People’s Library (YPL) book- Format 3. You can tell by the spine design. There are 4 different formats in the YPL, each with a characteristic spine. They can be seen here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202.htm.

Format 3 books were published between 1902-1923. (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202F3.htm) But remember, even if you do not know about this series, remember the first rule of dating Henry Altemus books. Henry Altemus incorporated in 1900 to become Henry Altemus Company. If the book has Henry Altemus Company on the title page-it has to date from 1900 or later.

Also appreciate that on this book's title page it lists 1897 as the copyright date. The copyright date is not necessarily the publication date. This is a very frequent error made by sellers looking for rarity based on early dating.

Altemus first published this title in 1895. The book advertised here used the plates from Altemus' 1897 edition- thus the 1897 copyright. Of course the title was first published in the mid-19th century. Prior to publication of this Format 3 Alice in Wonderland, Altemus published the Format 1 book from 1895-1898. Then it published two different Format 2 (1898-1902) books-the latter of which has the same cover as our seller's book here-but with the characteristic Format 2 spine. Generally without a dust jacket because this book is very common, a buyer should just not pay more than $15-20. The $349 price is beyond bizarre.

Thus what we have here is an incorrect description in terms of date and edition with a asking price 20 times the value. Not to be remiss the seller does provide papers that indicate that this book was part of an estate. Of course, the value added in this instance is zero.

Young People's Library Format 2

Ebay description:  The Pilgrim's Progress
by Bunyan, John

Price: $150.00
* Book condition: Fair Loose front and back boards Spine Fair/writing
* Edition: First Edition 1895
* Binding: Hardcover
* Publisher: Henry Altemus Philadelphia

Henry Altemus Philadelphia First Edition 1895.

The Reality:  Altemus first published this book in 1890. See: http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_28.jpg. This book's cover appears to indicate it is part of The Young People's Library-Format 2 probably published in 1898 well after Altemus had published this title numerous times in numerous formats. So not only is it not an Altemus first but not a true first which initially appeared in the late 1600's.

The price of $150 for a common late reprint in dismal condition is beyond belief. I suspect that this book will remain unsold for many years.

Young People's Library Format 2

Ebay description:  "Old Louisa M Alcott Book! Flower Fables!

You are bidding on a Louisa M. Alcott book with 34 illustrations!!

I don't know a lot about vintage books but here goes!!
It was given to someone in 1898
Publisher is Henry Altemus.
It apears to be a first addition!
Boston Dec 9 1854.."

The Reality:  This is a 1898-1902 book which is part of the Young People's Library-Format 2.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series202F2.htm

Altemus published no books for reading until 1889. The first edition was published by George W. Briggs, a Boston publisher in 1855 (Xmas, 1854).

This might be a first "addition" to your collection but it will not be a first edition.

Young People's Library Format 2 (and 1)

Ebay description:  EXPLORATION & DISCOVERY IN THE FROZEN SEAS/1896/RARE!!
1ST ED/ALTEMUS YOUNG PEOPLE' LIBRARY/NEW IN SERIES 1896

PRINTED IN 1896 BY THE HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY AS A NEW EDITION TO ITS YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIBRARY SERIES. WRITTEN BY PRESTON HOLMES WITH ENGRAVINGS TAKEN FROM PHOTOGRAPHS AND ART WORK DONE ESPECIALLY FOR THIS VOLUME.

EMBOSSED PICTORIAL COVER DEPICTING ESKIMO IN KAYAK. SPINE TITLE READS: THE FROZEN SEAS. NO DJ, AND I COULD NOT FIND ANY COPIES OF THIS BOOK THAT SAID IT ONCE HAD ONE -- ALL THREE OF THE COPIES I DID FIND INDICATE IT WAS JACKETLESS, "AS ISSUED." SIZE IS APPROX. 6" X 7" VERTICAL FORMAT. COLOR FRONTISPIECE, 80 ILLUSTRATIONS. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THE ART NOUVEAU FLORAL EMBOSSED SPINE WHICH INDICATES "FORMAT 2" BUT DOES NOT STOP THIS FROM BEING A FIRST EDITION, AS IT HAS ALL THE OTHER EARMARKS: ILLUSTRATED END PAPERS FRONT AND BACK, AND THE FULL "HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY" PUBLISHER'S LINE ON THE TITLE PAGE. THESE ARE NOT PRESENT IN TRUE SECOND EDITIONS. I BELIEVE THE SPINE IS "FORMAT 2" BECAUSE THAT WAS THE FORMAT BEING USED WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PRINTED.

254 TEXT PAGES PLUS 20 PAGES OF ADVERTISING FOR OTHER ALTEMUS PUBLICATIONS. NOTE THIS BOOK IS NOT YET LISTED IN THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S LIBRARY SERIES...WHICH, ALONG WITH THE ALTEMUS COPYRIGHT LINE ON THE TITLE PAGE, LEADS TO THE ASSUMPTION THAT THIS IS INDEED A FIRST EDITION.

The Reality:  This seller has argued with me about why this book is really a first edition and published in 1896.

Here is why this seller is wrong.

This book was published first in 1896 as part of the First Format of the Young People's Library. Since Altemus incorporated in 1900, any book with the imprint of Henry Altemus Company was published in 1900 or later.
The true first showing the 1896 date and the imprint of Henry Altemus is shown below. The second printing of the First Format in 1897 (title page shown below) differed from the 1896 printing by the addition of 8 more pages of text,the author's name on the title page and a new frontispiece. All editions from this 1897 one on are identical in content.

The seller also makes the claim that their book was not issued with a dust jacket. All format 2 books had jackets. Here is this one's.

Finally just for interest sake, this seller's frontispiece is a late Format 2 frontispiece. Included here is the first edition (1896) frontispiece and the one used from 1897 until the seller's book was published-probably in 1902. From 1897 until 1901 the explorer had a red suit. In 1902 in the seller's book, the explorer's outfit was brown.

Young People's Library - Format 4

Ebay description:  1899. 1st THUS ROBINSON CRUSOE, DANIEL DEFOE ILLUSTRATED

FIRST EDITION
1899

The Reality:  By the time Altemus published this book in the 1920s as part of the 4th format in the Young People's Library, this title had been published by him numerous times.

The first time was in 1895 in the first format of the Young People's Library. That book is pictured here.

Young People's Library

Ebay description:  1897 ALICE in WONDERLAND & LOOKING GLASS, ALTEMUS FIRST
MATCHED PAIR FIRST PRINTINGS, 4 COLOR PLATES

CARROLL'S CLASSICS, in Two Volumes, Published by Altemus (Philadelphia), both with Publication date of 1897 on Two Color Title Page. Hardcovers, 5" x 7", Complete in 183pp & 211p respectively inches. In Color Illustrated Cloth Bindings. BOTH FIRST ALTEMUS PRINTINGS, with All 4 Color Plates (Later Printings have on the Color Frontis)!

The Reality:  Over and over again novice booksellers (although this is a bookseller who claims not be a novice) claim that these Carroll Altemus editions are the first Altemus did.
These are later Altemus reprints. First note the title page. It clearly says Henry Altemus Company. Thus, these books were published after Henry Altemus incorporated which dates them at 1900 or later. The seller does not provide us with the back of the book ads which list many post-1897 books. Also appreciate that Altemus first published these titles in 1895 as part of the first format of the Young People's Library. These books are pictured below.