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.

Life of Service Series

Q:  Good morning. Attached are two photos of a book I found (Manners). Could you please tell me about it and if it has any value. Thank you.

A:  This book is part of the 28 volume Life of Service Series. It originally was published with a dust jacket which matched the front cover. It also was sold within a box that had a cover similar to the book cover.

This series was published between 1912 and 1933. Your book is part of the third (out of five possible formats). These books are not widely desired and consequently have little value. A sample box and dust jacket are shown on the series page.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  What can you tell me about this book Essays-Lord Francis Bacon? There are no inscriptions on the front cover. Inside just Philadelphia Henry Altemus. No apparent date.

A:  Your book was published in 1898 as part of the Sanspareil Series. This publisher's series of reprints included 104 volumes. Each book originally was sold with a dust jacket. An example is shown on the series page.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  What can you tell me about this book Thoughts Of The Emperor-Marcus Aurelius Antoninus by George Long. There are no inscriptions on the front cover. There is just Henry Altemus Philadelphia inside. No apparent date.

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1898. All of the 109 titles in this series are reprints and originally came in a labeled box. During this year this cover has been seen in various colors.

Vademecum Series

Q:  What can you tell me about this book- Ethics of the Dust. There is no marking of Henry Altemus on the bottom front cover. There is a dedication page to "The Real Little Houswives, whose gentle listening and thoughtful questioning enabled the writer to write this book. It is dedicated with love, Christmas 1875"

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. It originally came within a labeled slip case box.

During this year this format was seen with a number of different cover colors. I have seen eight different covers so far.

All of the books in this series are reprints. Since your book is not a very collectible title, it has only nominal value.

Young People's Library Format 1

Q:  This book is from my husband's family- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 1895. No jacket. Probably from Format 1, and one of a set (which we don't have). Could you give us a value estimate?

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library, Format 1 and was published between 1895-1898. This is the first Altemus printing of this title. It has been seen in several different colors.

It is much rarer than the later Young People's Library Alice's even though the later ones are frequently touted as "rare and valuable".

The actual edition/year of your book can be easily determined by looking at the ads in the front and following the dating directions on the website.

For more information on the Altemus Alice's see ../alice/alice.htm

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Could you please tell me the book value or series of book for this house of the seven gables book? Thank you.

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1897. All of the books in this series are reprints and were originally published within a labeled box.

This 1897 format was printed with numerous different color covers.

The 1897 Beauxarts' books are very, very common. Very few titles (including this one) have more than nominal value.

Classics Series

Q:  I have this small book that belonged to my grandfather as a child. It is over 100 years old. No holly is attached to cover. I'm thinking it was part of a Christmas collection. I have no intent to sell but would like to know its value.

A:  This book is part of the Classics Series and was printed between 1907-1909. It originally came with a dust jacket. The books of this series never had any attached holly.

There are a couple of very special titles in this series (Diamond Lens, Hunting of the Snark). This title is an Altemus reprint but may be collectible to some Charles Dickens' or Christmas Carol collectors.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Could you please help me find the publication date of this book (The Courtship of Miles Standish). I am curious. It is one of my most favorite possessions.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was printed in 1905-1906 and is a reprint. Your book is not a very desired title and thus has little value.

Originally it was published within a labeled box. See a representative box below.

This format has been seen with several cover colors. Four different flowers have been seen on the covers of these books. This book has the orchid. Other flowers are shown on the series page.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  Hello, I have a copy of of Hawthorne's A Wonder Book from my grandparents, and I'm not sure what to do with it.

I have not been able to take a good photo of it but will try to describe it: Blue cover, title in gold in top third, lower 2/3s divided vertically in three unequal panels, center panel has a figure in profile in what could be Greek dress with sandals, author's name along bottom. Cover and panels outlined in what may have been gilded lines. Cover intact, a few loose pages.

So far none of my friends with children that age have been interested, and it's not the sort of book I want to keep in my collection.
It's been an interesting hunt to learn about this book. Thanks for your website!

A:  This book is part of the 58 book Boys and Girls Classics.

This series has a centrally located paste-on picture which is different for each book and book appropriate. There are two cover formats. One which has the gold leaf decorative pattern within the vertical sections and one that does not have these decorations.

These books are all reprints and have little value except for those books with collectible titles.

The books can be dated using the ads in the back.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Hi there, I have one book and I don't know much about it, but it is old and I cannot find the year edition. It has a dedicated to Billie in the first page and dated 1921. I send you some pictures, hope you can help me. The Story of Little Black Sambo

A:  You have an excellent book. It is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

This is the first Altemus edition of this title. Between 1917 and 1921 the titles of this series had either red or yellow lettering. Subsequently the lettering was black/grey or green.

This title is very collectible and this early edition is a very special book.

All of the books in this series had dust jackets. The jacket for this title is shown here.