Henry Altemus Company

 

Periodical Advertisements

 

Click on any item below to see more information.

Series 23- Motor Boat Series
Series 78- Dore Masterpiece's
Series 107- Idle Hours Series
Series 134- Mythology Series
Non Series #9- Annie Besant
Non Series #28- Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
Non Series #34- Child's History of England
Non Series #46-Don'ts For Girls
Non Series #58 Get Rich Wallingford
Non Series #109- Paul and Virginia
Non Series #111- Paul- A Herald of the Cross
Non Series #116 Quo Vadis
Non Series #118- Rataplan
Non series #121- Robinson Crusoe
Non Series #131- Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross
Non Series #138- Trif and Trixy

 

Motor Boat Club Series (Series 23)

 

This September, 1909 ad notes 3 of the 6 Motor Boat Club Series books that were published in 1909. Generally, when a number of books from the same series are copyrighted in the same year, the thought is that they were all released in one group- a breeder set. Looking at the ad below this does not appear to be the case here. The ad mentions the first three books but not the other three that were also copyrighted in 1909. "Others in preparation for early publication". Thus the first three were published before numbers 4-6. Since this ad is from September, the other books must have been published in the last three months of the year. The first three probably were reprinted at that time.

This may be why the jacket without any red color is very rare. That is, the first three books were published first with the "no red color" jacket and shortly thereafter the first six books were published with the later Format 1 dust jacket. See below for the pictures of these jackets.

1909 Ad

Format 1 DJ Early

Format 1 DJ Later

 

Altemus Books September 1892
Dore's Masterpieces (Series 78)

 

This full page ad which appeared in the Publishers' Weekly in September 1892 shows how Henry Altemus was starting to move away from concentrating on Bibles and more towards books for reading. The Bibles which were previously given top billing in the ads is now at the bottom of this full page ad.

The Dore Masterpieces (Series # 78) are noted with a format 5 book pictured. This is proof positive that this format was published by late 1892.

Also pictured is a copy of A Child's History of England. The four books listed as New Editions were among the very first reading type books that Altemus published. The various editions were deluxe and very expensive for the time.

 

December 1890
Dore's Masterpieces (Series 78)

 

This ad from December 1890 in Publisher's Weekly highlights Pilgrim's Progress. This ad shows the cover of the first Altemus edition of this title.

Also noted in the ad is the second volume of the Idle Hours Series (#107) -published in 1891 and the Dore Masterpieces (Series #78).

 

December 1890
Idle Hours Series (Series 107)

 

This ad from December 1890 in Publisher's Weekly highlights Pilgrim's Progress. This ad shows the cover of the first Altemus edition of this title.

Also noted in the ad is the second volume of the Idle Hours Series (#107) -published in 1891 and the Dore Masterpieces (Series #78).

 

Altemus Books Christmas 1897
Mythology Series (Series 134)

 

December 1897 Publishers' Weekly

 

Non Series #9 - Annie Besant

 

Henry Altemus did not advertise extensively in trade journals. I intend at this time to begin posting some of their ads. This one is for a rather uncommonly found Altemus book. This title can be found in the non series section. The ad is from the main trade periodical of the era- Publishers' Weekly in 1895.

 

Altemus Books September 1892
Non Series #28- Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

 

This full page ad which appeared in the Publishers' Weekly in September 1892 shows how Henry Altemus was starting to move away from concentrating on Bibles and more towards books for reading. The Bibles which were previously given top billing in the ads is now at the bottom of this full page ad.

The Dore Masterpieces (Series # 78) are noted with a format 5 book pictured. This is proof positive that this format was published by late 1892.

Also pictured is a copy of A Child's History of England. The four books listed as New Editions were among the very first reading type books that Altemus published. The various editions were deluxe and very expensive for the time.

 

December 1890
Non Series #28- Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

 

This ad from December 1890 in Publisher's Weekly highlights Pilgrim's Progress. This ad shows the cover of the first Altemus edition of this title.

Also noted in the ad is the second volume of the Idle Hours Series (#107) -published in 1891 and the Dore Masterpieces (Series #78).

 

Altemus Books September 1892
Non Series #34 - Child's History of England

 

This full page ad which appeared in the Publishers' Weekly in September 1892 shows how Henry Altemus was starting to move away from concentrating on Bibles and more towards books for reading. The Bibles which were previously given top billing in the ads is now at the bottom of this full page ad.

The Dore Masterpieces (Series # 78) are noted with a format 5 book pictured. This is proof positive that this format was published by late 1892.

Also pictured is a copy of A Child's History of England. The four books listed as New Editions were among the very first reading type books that Altemus published. The various editions were deluxe and very expensive for the time.

 

Non Series #46 - Don'ts For Girls

 

Publishers' Weekly September, 1902

 

Non Series #58 - Get Rich Quick Wallingford

 

These ads appeared in Publishers' Weekly in 1908.

 

Altemus Books September 1892
Non Series #109 - Paul and Virginia

 

This full page ad which appeared in the Publishers' Weekly in September 1892 shows how Henry Altemus was starting to move away from concentrating on Bibles and more towards books for reading. The Bibles which were previously given top billing in the ads is now at the bottom of this full page ad.

The Dore Masterpieces (Series # 78) are noted with a format 5 book pictured. This is proof positive that this format was published by late 1892.

Also pictured is a copy of A Child's History of England. The four books listed as New Editions were among the very first reading type books that Altemus published. The various editions were deluxe and very expensive for the time.

 

Altemus Books Christmas 1897
Non Series #111 - Paul-A Herald of the Cross

 

December 1897 Publishers' Weekly

 

Altemus Books Christmas 1897
Non Series #116 - Quo Vadis

 

December 1897 Publishers' Weekly

 

Non Series #118 - Rataplan

 

This ad appeared in 1902 in the Publishers' Weekly. I have not seen two different editions of this book. Although the advertisement notes the second edition now ready, I suspect that there is no distinguishing feature between the different editions of this book.
It obviously was a big seller for Altemus since it went through at least two editions within the first year of publication.

 

Altemus Books September 1892
Non Series #121 - Robinson Crusoe

 

This full page ad which appeared in the Publishers' Weekly in September 1892 shows how Henry Altemus was starting to move away from concentrating on Bibles and more towards books for reading. The Bibles which were previously given top billing in the ads is now at the bottom of this full page ad.

The Dore Masterpieces (Series # 78) are noted with a format 5 book pictured. This is proof positive that this format was published by late 1892.

Also pictured is a copy of A Child's History of England. The four books listed as New Editions were among the very first reading type books that Altemus published. The various editions were deluxe and very expensive for the time.

 

Altemus Books Christmas 1897
Non Series #131 - Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross

 

December 1897 Publishers' Weekly

 

Altemus Books Christmas 1897
Non Series #138 - Trif and Trixy

 

December 1897 Publishers' Weekly

 

 

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Last Revision February 20, 2008