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.

Popular Series of Popular Authors

Q:  I found this copy of Drummond's Addresses at a flea market and I have struggled to discern what series it is from your website. The inside says Philadelphia Henry Altemus 1893. Thank you so much!

A:  This book belongs to the seven title Popular Series of Popular Authors. All of the books were published in 1893 and are reprints. They originally came with dust jackets. See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series150.htm

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello! My wife’s grandmother gave her this book years ago, and we are wanting to identify the date. A Christmas Carol. Can you help us figure out which year this Altemus book was published? It just says Altemus on the side and doesn’t have identifying information on the first page like most books.

A:  Your book was published in 1908-1909 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. As with all of the books in this series, it is a reprint.

It originally came within a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me a little more information about this book? Visits of Elizabeth. Looking at your site, I identified it as being in the Vademecum Series and probably published around 1901? I found the identical picture on the cover of Mulvaney Stories, shown as #35 and labeled as multiple rocks on hillside. Any other information you could give me, I would appreciate.

A:  You are correct. This book is part of the long running Vademecum Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints. The cover format changed every year or two. This cover is the 1901 cover. The appliqué is one of over forty possibilities.

For more information about these pictures see http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm.

Some examples of the 1901 cover are shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Need to know if it is authentic

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. All the books in this series are reprints.

In 1899 the books of this series had a stereotyped left section of the cover but the right side had numerous different decorative designs. Twenty-eight different designs have been seen at this time.

These books originally came within a labeled box.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  I'd like to find out how old it is, it was my grandmother's. The Raven and Other Poems

A:  Your book is part of the ten volume Poems We Love Series.

These limp velvet cover books are all reprints. They were published between 1912-1915. Originally these books came within a labeled box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I am looking into a weird find! I bought this book and there is no way for me to tell how old it is, or how much it is worth! A Wonder Book. I can't find another like it! Can you help? I've attached some pictures to help you! Thank you in advance!

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

It originally came within a box. See here.

Because it is not a very collectible title, it has nominal value only.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Dear Expert,
I've searched for this book on Amazon and Abe books and other sites, but have not seen a similar copy anywhere. The Snow Image. Anything you tell me?

A:  Your book was published in 1902 as part of the Beauxarts Series. This is a publisher’s series in which all of the books are reprints. During this year the cover has been seen with many different colors. This book was originally boxed. See here.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I received this book from my mother. It belonged to my grandmother. I cannot find a date other than the handwritten inscription that it was given for Christmas in 1900. The title appears to be Addresses by Phillips Brooks.
Any information that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1898 and is part of the Sanspareil Series. This is a publisher’s series that contained only reprints.

It originally came with a dust jacket. An example is shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was wondering if it would be possible to determine when this edition of Marmion was published.

A:  Your book was published in 1908-1909. It is part of the Petit Trianon Series.

Originally it came within a labeled box. See here for an example.

It is a reprint with nominal value.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Hello, I have just come across a wonderful version of 1st American Edition Peter Rabbit Wee Books series. Green(ish) cover. I feel that the book is not complete as it says on the title page that there are thirty-one illustrations—I only counted 20+. The pages are also separated from the spine some by signatures (some not and individual pages)...rightfully so, it is over 113 years old. I’m wondering what the value is on such a rare find in this condition would be.

My question too is, how can I compare my books illustration and pagination to get the book in order (outside of knowing the story line). It seems as though the blank pages are counted in the folio.

A:  Your copy is not the true first edition. See here for information about the first and second editions: http://henryaltemus.com/peter_rabbit/peterrabbit.htm

In this shape the book has little or no value. These copies are not that rare.

The only way to order the pages is to compare them to a complete book. If you want to scan the pictures, I can put them in the correct order.