Henry Altemus Company

The following are questions submitted via email by our visitors.

If you have a question about Altemus books that you'd like answered please click on the Questions link at the bottom left of this page.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello I have a small green hardback of Sesame and Lilies by John Ruskin. The only identifying items are:
—no title page but Henry Altemus, Philadelphia
—my aunt's name with “Christmas 1897” inscription

Can you determine if this is of any value?

A:  This book was published in 1896 as part of the Vademecum Series.
It is a reprint with nominal value.
See: https://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series179.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have had this book (Weird Tales) since my grandmother passed away in 1995. I have attempted to search it finding now answers. I have found some similar but not with the same title. Can you help?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.
It is a reprint.
See: https://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Young People's Library - Format 1

Q:  Is this something I should keep? (Through the Looking Glass)

A:  Yes. Although the book is in terrible shape, Alice collectors are always looking for this title in the various formats.

Your book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 1. Based on the ads, it was published in 1897.

See:Henry Altemus Company - Young People's Library Series 202 Format 1

Mother Goose Series

Q:  I have this book that was awarded to my husband's grandfather in 1904 (Bird Stories for Little People). The cover is worn, but the pages are in very good condition. Thought you might want to investigate this book for your website, as I could not find it.

A:  Your book is part of the Mother Goose Series. It originally came with a dust jacket. The inscription date is the publication year in this instance.

It is a reprint.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Mother Goose Series 131

Vademecum Series

Q:  Just wondering about this book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin). Could not find it on the website. Mother recently passed and have been going through her things. There is an endearment inside the cover dated Jan 30 1906.

A:  Your book was published in 1905-1906 as part of the Vademecum Series. It is a reprint.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was given a book from my late grandfather (House of the Seven Gables) and have had no luck on locating what year it was published or what series it was published in. I can’t find any other book with the same design. It does not have a page that says the publishing information and/or isbn number. The title page says Philadelphia Henry Artemus Company, which is the only lead I have on placing this book. It does have pages of illustrations in it.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. See:Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

It was published in 1903 and is a reprint.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you please tell me the value of this very old edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson's Representative Men?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (early numbering) 179

It is a reprint worth a few dollars if you can find a buyer.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I found this book (Treasure Island) at a yard sale. It has no date. I think it might be a Vandecum series. From Henry Altemus Company. In advertisement Folly in Fairyland is a new publication so I think it is around 1910.
How much could I sell this for?

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. You can determine the date by looking at the ads and reviewing the information on the series page. See: Henry Altemus Company - Boys and Girls Classics (old) Series 58

It is a reprint and in only fair condition. Nominal value would be my guess.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a Treasure Island book and cannot find it in your website. If you could give me some information that would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1912-1913.
In this year the covers had one of several different colors.
It is a reprint as are all of the books in this publisher’s series.
See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

Vademecum Series

Q:  Wondering about the date on this book:

Legends of the Province-House
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Philadelphia
Henry Altemus Company

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903. It is a reprint as are all the books in this multivolume multi-authored publisher’s series.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180