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.

Belle-Lettres Series

Q:  I was hoping to find out some information about this book (The Legend of Sleepy Hollow). It looks like a Belles-lettres series but I am having trouble finding out much. Is there anything you can tell me about it? If the copyright date really is 1896, etc. thank you so much.

A:  Your book is part of the Belle-Lettres Series.

This series of 31 books was published in 1896 and 1897. A number of different cover formats have been seen.

Your book was first published by Altemus in 1896 but the Altemus printing is a late reprint. The first edition of this story appeared in 1820.

Young People's Library

Q:  I have a book entitled Lives of the Presidents of the United States, 1896 copyright by Henry Altemus. It is listed as book 13 on your list. It is blue cloth, with Altemus' name on the spine. The Presidents range from George Washington to Benjamin Harrison. The book is in fairly good condition, except the spine is loose, but still attached. The original cost of the book is listed inside as .50. I am eager to learn if this book is considered antique and if so, what is the estimated value.

A:  This title was published in the Young People's Library between 1896 and about 1913. Three different formats have been seen.

The books can be dated by noting the last president mentioned in the text. The earliest book therefore ends with Grover Cleveland while the latest book notes Woodrow Wilson.

I have not seen a book which lists only to Harrison who finished his term in 1893. Since this title was not published until 1896, it is hard to know why your book does not list Cleveland.

See http://henryaltemus.com/blog/?p=832.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I found this book and was wondering how old and how much is it worth. The is no title page and I had no idea who the author was until I looked it up. The Chimes. Thank you.

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

It was originally sold within a labeled box. See here.

It is a late reprint and only has nominal value.

Non Series #64

Q:  Do you recognize this book/cover and could you possibly give me any info as to age, value, and edition? Grimm's Fairy Tales

A:  1922 edition. See Non Series #64 Grimm's Fairy Tales

In mediocre condition without the dust jacket this book is worth between $10 and $20.

Dore's Masterpieces

Q:  Die Dore Bibel - Gallerie

Enter according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890 By Henry Altemus in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington D. C.
Illustrirt von Gustave Dore’
Completely in German with pictures
Excellent Condition

Is this worth anything?

A:  This series of seven books is among the most desired of Altemus publications. Even though the titles are relatively easy to find in one of the formats, the Dore illustrations are still quite widely collected.

Die Dore Bibel Gallerie is the least commonly found title in the series. It is a German translation of the Dore Bible Gallery which is also part of the series.

See Dore's Masterpieces for more information.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  To whom it may concern; I was wondering if you could give me some information on this book? A Christmas Carol (Such as publish date and is it part of a set.) Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the La Belle Fleur Series and was published only in 1901. All 115 titles in this series are reprints.

The cover pattern for all of the volumes is the same but the colors varied. These books had dust jackets.

Devotional Series

Q:  Can you help me identify this book? Holy in Christ

A:  This book is a first format book from the Devotional Series. The format was published between 1895 and the late 1890's.

It originally came within a labeled box.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  My daughter found this at estate sale in Michigan. (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) It is a withdrawn copy from Saginaw library. In the back the Vademecum, Young People's Library and Historical Series are listed. What would be the estimated publication date?

A:  This book is from the Boys and Girls Classics Series. These books were published between 1899-1906. Your volume could not have been an 1899 issue since Altemus incorporated in 1900 and your book noted Henry Altemus Company on the title page.

Thus it was published between 1900 and 1906. It can be dated exactly by using the flow chart on the website and the advertisements in the back of your volume.

The titles in this series are all reprints and originally came within a labeled box, an example of which is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Poe's Poems... absolutely no dates??? Hope you can help... 1000 thanks.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

Each year to two the cover changed and was characteristic for that year. In 1904 the covers were seen in a number of different colors and there were four different flower appliques. Your book's flower is Queen Anne's Lace.

The 1904 volumes came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Children of the Bible Series

Q:  Hello there! Thank you for your valuable time! I have a book that is identified in the list of Altemus Illustrated Children of the Bible Series. Copyright 1905 by Henry Altemus Printed in the United States. (The Boy Who Obeyed). The Story of Isaac by J.H. Willard. On one page it says Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. On the next page it says Copyright, 1905 By Henry Altemus. It is a hard back cover. The picture of this book is in the list on the web site listed as Format # 5 , volume # 1. It has no dust cover sort of speak. It just has the hard back cover identical to Format #5, volume #1. Please email me back with any information you can give me on this nice book. Any idea what it maybe worth, or where one can possibly sell it.

A:  This ten book series was quite popular during its production run. There were five formats all of which came with dust jackets. Presently however these books are not hard to find and not very collectible and thus have minimal value.

For more information see Children of the Bible Series