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:  Good morning -
Attached please find pics of The Scarlet Letter published by Henry Altemus. However, inside the book, at the beginning, are the preface and introduction to Natural Law in the Spiritual World by Henry Drummond, up to page 12 and then the next page is page 33 of The Scarlet Letter. Have you ever seen anything like it?

A:  I have seen mistakes like this but not this exact one.

I suspect someone at the factory was not thinking clearly.

The book is an 1898 publication from the Vademecum Series. ../series/series179.htm

Love and Friendship Series

Q:  I have a book (The Courting of Dinah Shadd) from my grandmother's estate, and I would like to give it to my son and daughter-in-law. A copy of the cover is attached. The book is in good condition, and was given to my grandmother at some point before 1907 as a Sunday School gift from her teacher.
I have researched as much as I can from your website, and would like to have an approximate value, or any additional information you have have, to include with notes in the book.

The only writing in the book is the notation by the teacher to my grandmother of the gift.

A:  Information about your book can be found here: ../series/series127.htm

It is a reprint and this title is not in great demand.

It only has nominal value.

Boys and Girls Classics (old)

Q:  I was reading up on your information on the Henry Altemus Company books.. and was wondering if I could email you some pictures so you can help me with the age of the book. The title is Through the Looking Glass, and there is no date. Any information you can give me would be appreciated.

A:  Your book belongs to this series-Boys and Girls Classics (../series/series58.htm).

These books were published between 1899 and 1906.

Altemus incorporated in 1900 so since the imprint on your book is Henry Altemus Company it was published no earlier than 1900.

Since it is inscribed 1902-your book was published between 1900 and early 1903.

For a more exact dating look at the site noted above. There is a dating section.

Appreciate that the vast majority of Altemus' Through the Looking Glass books carry an 1897 copyright.

On Ebay these books are listed as being published in 1897. These listings for the most part are wrong.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have been having a hard time finding information and pricing for this edition of John Ruskin's Sesame and Lilies. Would you happen to know anything about it? Thanks,

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. The books of this series are all reprints.

See ../series/series179.htm

Your book only has nominal value.

Riviere Series

Q:  Hello,
I have attached some photos of the book (Nature, Addresses and Lectures) I have questions about. I found this years ago in an old abandoned house and thought it looked really old. I was just curious you could tell me if its worth anything (monetarily) and about how much. Probably going to hold on to it for awhile but was just curious if it was valuable.

A:  Your book is a reprint and was published in 1901 as part of the Riviere Series. This series consisted of only 87 books and is therefore one of the smaller Altemus publisher's series. All of the titles are reprints. Originally the books came with a dust jacket. The plastic like purple flower is somewhat difficult to find in great shape.

More information can be found at ../series/series158.htm.

It only has nominal value.

Yuletide Series

Q:  To Whom it may concern,

I have a very old Henry Altemus publication of Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol.
It was given to me by my 92 year old Mother. She received it from hers who was 101 when she died.
I don't think for a moment that the signature is authentic but I would like to know more about it. I have attached some photos of this book for you to peruse. I hope you may be able to shed some light on it's history.

A:  This book is part of the Yuletide Series which was published between 1912 and 1916. See ../series/series203.htm

The books of this series originally came within a labeled box. Since Dickens died in 1870 the signature, as you guessed, the signature is not authentic.
Generally this book sells between $10-25.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  I have taken the liberty of attaching very bad photos of a book left to me by an Aunt. The book is titled “Drummond's Addresses” and seems to have a copyright date of 1891. Any information you could offer me on this book would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1901 as part of the La Belle Fleur Series.

See ../series/series115.htm

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Young People's Library

Q:  I have this copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales from 1898 but I have not seen one with this particular cover on-line. I would like to sell it but it's hard to tell what it's worth when I haven't seen another like it. Would you be able to tell me more about it and who I might call to find out its worth? The fabric is quite torn on the binding.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library Format 4.

It is pictured here: ../series/series202F4.htm

It was published between 1923 and 1933. The copyright is not the same as the publication date with your book.

Without the dust jacket it has only nominal value.

Gem Series

Q:  I recently purchased a book (The Crown of Wild Olive) by Author John Ruskin, which was published by Henry Altemus Company in Philadelphia. I did not see this title mentioned on your website as being one which was published in 1893, when the publishing company did a number of volumes in English calfskin. However, my volume is bound entirely in English calfskin, and it has a gold leaf imprint on the cover as well. Additionally of interest, several of the pages are also not separated (meaning that the publisher did not cut apart the paper after the paper was folded over and bound). I've attached a few photos to show you what I mean.

I was researching the publishing company so that I could best determine a publication year for my volume. I am a collector and do not intend to sell it, however I like to catalogue my books with their publishing information. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or comments on the publication date.

A:  Your book is part of the Gem Series and was published in 1913-1914.

See ../series/series92.htm

Altemus published this title numerous times. If you put the title into the index, you will see a listing.

Altemus did not publish any books with the soft ooze calf (like your book) in 1893.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I cant seem to find information on the book "Rab and his Friends" with a Mucha painting likeness on the cover. I found it at a consignment shop for $5 but the cover's worn - inside pages are very clean.

Anyway, your site is only site I found with related info.... would someone know if they worth anything or should I just shelf it? a pic is attached.

A:  Nice book but unfortunately it has no real value. (less than $20)

It is part of the Petit Trianon Series (../series/series143.htm) and was published in 1901-1902.

For what it's worth it is one of six Mucha covers that Altemus "borrowed".

See ../artists/artists-Mucha.htm