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.

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.

Young People's Library

Q:  I just want to know about how much this book (William the Conqueror) might be worth. I found it in my parents attic .... Looking at the website I believe it is the later 1900 edition ... Thanks in advance for trying to answer my question.

A:  Most of the books of the Young People's Library are quite common and and not widely collected. For this reason without a dust jacket this book has only nominal value. For more information see ../ypl/index.htm

Young People's Library

Q:  Hi. I don't know if you still check this website, but I was wondering if you can tell me about this book (A Child's Garden of Verses)? Thanks.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library Format 4. You can see it here: ../series/series202F4.htm

This format was published between 1923 and 1933. Originally it came with a dust jacket which matches the book cover. Except for a few special titles (not this one), without a dust jacket most of the books in the format have little value.

Young People's Library

Q:  My father passed away and left me some books of which I would like to know if are just copies or originals. The book in question is The Story of Exploration and Discovery of the Frozen Seas. I am attaching some photos of the book showing the cover and the inside page and frontispiece. The frontispiece is different than others I have seen. It says the book was copyright 1896 but I know it could be a later date as well. I am not sure of the format of this book either. I have been reading what I could find on the internet and nothing I have seen tells me if it is original or not so I thought perhaps you could tell me. The last five or six pages of the book list all the publications that are for sale. I also noted the spine says The Frozen Seas while the cover says Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas and the inside page says The Story of Exploration and Discovery in the Frozen Seas. If you could help me by telling me if this book is a genuine original I would be very grateful.

A:  Actually your book is in the pictures. It is #14 Later here ../series/series202F3.htm.

It was published after 1902. You can figure out the exact year by following the dating instructions on this page. The date on the title page indicates the copyright and not the date that this particular book was published by Altemus.

This title was first published by Altemus in 1896. The earliest formats can be seen here: ../series/series202F1.htm.

It is therefore a late reprint and has little value.

Young People's Library Format 3

Q:  Rip Van Winkle. Year 1900. All pages 46 illustrations up 230 pages. Plus the young people library after the 230 pages. Do you know what edition this is. Its in good condition. But not like new. If any value to the book. I know it's the

Thank You for your time. Jim

Picture attaches of book cover. But not mine. Do not have a camera or scanner. But it tell you what book it is.

A:  You can start here (../ypl/index.htm) and date your book fairly easily. Based on the ads in the back of the book, you will be able to narrow down the date of publication to a specific date between1902-1923 (when the third format of the Young People's Library was published).

It only has nominal value.

Young People's Library Format 1

Q:  Hello, We recently found a bunch of old books from one of our relatives and in them was a copy of Robinson Crusoe published by Altemus that was given as a Christmas present in 1898. We would like some information on the book as to the real age, and approximate worth of the book for insurance purposes.

A:  Hi. Your book is part of the Young People's Library and was published between 1895 and 1898. If you look here: ../series/series202F1.htm you will find a flow chart that will allow you to date your book by studying the advertisements within it.

Generally since this is a reprint (albeit a nice one) it sells for between $10-20.

Young People's Library- Format 1

Q:  Greetings,
I have attached a photo of the front cover of "The Pilgrim's Progress." There are no ads in the back and only 6 books are listed behind the cover page. Could you confirm that this is a first edition and give me some idea as to its value. Thank you very much for your assistance.

A:  Your book probably is an early Altemus edition but not the first Altemus edition. Altemus published its first edition in 1890. The true first edition was published in the 1600's.

Your book is part of the Young People's Library (../series/series202F1.htm). The exact date of publication can be determined by using the flowchart which is on the series page.

These reprints ordinarily sell for only a few dollars.

Young People's Library, Format 4

Q:  Ten days ago, I came across a Henry Altemus Company book without a publishing date and doing my usual daily research, I came across your website and was able to roughly match my book with an image of the cover of another book, thus giving me a nice estimate for a publishing year, around 1907.

Today's book, I'm afraid, has no date and I can find no matching cover style on your site so far. Fortunately, there is an inscription inside the front cover dated Christmas 1924, but I was hoping to match a cover style as well to make that a more concrete date, if possible.

The book is 'A Child's Garden of Verses' by Robert Louis Stevenson. I have attached my images of the day for the book and I apologize that there isn't a direct shot of the cover, but I think you might be able to get a general idea just the same. My question to you is, does this look like it could be from around 1924? Or do you perhaps recognize that style of cover as another particular year?

I don't expect much, but thought I would drop a line and check with you.

A:  Your book appears to be from the Young People's Library Format 4 (see: ../series/series202F4.htm) which was published for the first time in 1923. Thus based on the inscription in your picture the book probably is either a 1923 or 1924 book.

I looked at your slideshow. Very nice. If you have other questions regarding dating books, I can try to help. I have an extensive reference library for this sort of thing.

For dating issues the place to start is generally the title page.

Young People's Library-Format 1

Q:  Hello, I have a Gulliver's Travels published by Altemus, Philadelphia from the Altemus' Young People's Library, date of publication: "Copyright 1896 by Henry Altemus". The price printed on it is 50 cents. It has 55 illustrations. Could you kindly tell me what this book is worth approximately, if anything?

I've included a jpeg - it happens to be accompanied by my Dr. Dolittle book, which is not published by Altemus.
I appreciate your help.

A:  Your book which can be found here ../series/series202F1.htm is not uncommon. There is a flowchart on that page to help you determine which Altemus edition it is and when between 1896 and 1898 it was published.

Clearly your copy is in excellent shape. Unfortunately there is not a lot of interest in this edition. I would think $10-20 would be on the high side.

Of course, you never know when someone just has to have a certain book.

Young People's Library- Format 1

Q:  Hi, I recently found this book at a local Library book sale. I really liked the inlay and engravings etc, and with a copyright of 1895, I imagine it has it's own story. Not that it matters but I was curious that maybe it was worth something? I could not find it online, so I wondered what you make of it. Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Young People's Library- Format 1. You can find it shown here ../series/series202F1.htm as #5.

Although it is an early or first edition of this title (check the ads to see which), it is not in the best shape and has little collector interest.

Although sometimes I am quite surprised at the prices that certain books sell for, your book generally would only sell for a few dollars if it sells at all.