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.

Boys and Girls' Classics

Q:  I have a Black Beauty book that i cannot find a match to anywhere. The cover for it looks exactly like this Twice Told Tales copy except the picture is of Black Beauty with a rider in a green riding habit. The illustration is similar to those on other Black Beauty book covers. I would like to know more about this book and if it has any value. Thanks!

A:  Your book can be found here: ../series/series58.htm with the Boys and Girls' Classics
Depending on condition it is worth only a few dollars.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was wondering if you can give me any info on this book, the title is “Poems” the author is Oliver W. Holmes and the publisher is Henry Altemus Philadelphia Copyright 1895

A:  It is part of the Vademecum Series. See ../series/series180.htm for info on your book.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Devotional Series

Q:  We have a book written by Rev. Charles Spurgeon (John Ploughman's Talk). Published by Henry Altemus Company. No publishing date is listed. Could you tell us something about this book. Does it have any value?

A:  Your book was published in about 1907 as part of the Devotional Series.

See ../series/series75.htm

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I searched all over your site but I could not find anything with this cover. It is missing the first six pages and would love to know the year in which it was printed. thank you!

A:  Your book can be found here: ../series/series57.htm

It is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. You should be able to accurately date it by looking at the ads in the back of the book.

See the last book published in a series and then look up the series.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have attached a picture of my book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in hopes you would be able to tell me what year it was published. I appreciate any information you can give me.

A:  Your book was published in 1904. See ../series/series180.htm

It is a reprint and originally came within a labeled box.

Boys and Girls Classics Series

Q:  I have 'Fairy Tales' by Hans Christian Andersen, Illustrated by Four Full Page Pictures in Color plus 100+ black and white illustrations with the Altemus ads in the back. The contents are complete with 224 plus 16 pages of ads. However I’m not sure whether there is a title and publisher page missing as the binding is loose with some sections unattached, but still held together with the tied binding. The cover is somewhat discolored, but still very bright including frontispiece.
I've attached pictures and would love any information you may have as to the value of the book. Contents:

Preface
The Swineherd
The Old House
The Story of a Mother
The Bell
The Red Shoes
The Shirt Collar
The Nightingale
The Leaping March
The Saucy Boy
The Ugly Duckling
The Darning Needle
The Emperor's New Suit
The Storks
The Daisy
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Angel
Thumbelina
The Flax
The Real Princess
The Shepherdess and the Sweep
The Flying Trunk
The Little Match Girl

Thanks

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girl's Classics Series. For information about this series see: ../series/series57.htm

This book only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I recently came upon this book that belonged to my grandparents. The Princess and Maud by Tennyson it was published in 1895 by your company. It has some water damage along the bottom and is cover is gently used. Can you tell me if this book has any value?

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. See ../series/series179.htm

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello, Recently I went in my attic to clean up and I came upon this old book titled "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland". I looked in the book and it appears to be very old. Also a previous owner of the book wrote the date 1901 inside of one of the pages. I was wondering what the value is of this book? Also what was the publication date? I sent you a couple of pictures attached.

A:  This book was published between 1899-1901 and was part of the Beauxarts Series. (../series/series48.htm)

It is a reprint and most of the books of this series have only nominal value. Occasionally however, since there are many "Alice" collectors out there this title may sell for $20-30.

Young People's Library

Q:  My friend was in an antique store and found this 1895 edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, published by Henry Altemus. It is priced at $150. The internet has conflicting prices and information. The book is in good condition. Would you mind letting me know if this price is reasonable or what your thoughts are. Thanks

A:  $150 is high. First you have to figure out which edition it is. Take a look here to determine when it was published between 1895-1898.
../series/series202F1.htm

The true Altemus first is worth more than later copies.

The prices for this book as well as the later Young People's Library reprints are hard to figure. What I mean is that the later Alice's in the Young People's Library. ( See ../series/series202F2.htm and ../series/series202F3.htm frequently are promoted as earlier and rarer than they are and unknowing buyers will pay $50-100 for a copy. This is despite the fact that not only are they buying a misdescribed book but they are buying a very, very common book.

Getting back to your book. The condition is not great so even if it is the 1895 edition, it is not worth the money. Maybe $50-75 if you just have to have it. If not, you can be patient and pick up a better copy for $25-50.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Dear Sirs:
I have an old publication of A Child's Garden of Verses and I wish to know the date it was published. The book measures 4 1/4 by 6 1/4. The cover is blue, with a narrow picture of some old buildings, by, what appears to be a river. The title page is in red ink, with decorations of green. Below title is printed

PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY

There is no date in the book. In the back of the book is listed the books that were published by Henry Altemus Company, beginning with:
Abbe Constantin, The. Halevy.
The last book listed is:
Half-A-Dozen Housekeepers. By Kate Douglas

Please, I would like to know the printing date of this book. I know it is very old by the yellowed pages. What I find strange is that there are NO DATES in the book, not even in the listings in the back of the book naming previous published books by that company.

I would greatly appreciate your help, and I thank you in advance!

A:  Your book was published in 1907. It is part of the Vademecum Series.
It is a late reprint of this title.

See ../vademecum.htm