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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me something about this Treasure Island book I have:

Is it from the Vademecum series (I think it is)? It is 6.5” x 4.5”. Is it really from 1899? Is it common, and of nominal value as I suspect?

I have attached some pictures of the book.

A:  This book is from the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. Originally it was published a labeled box.

Although the book itself is not common, it is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I've acquired a small book of Endymion, and Other Poems and am lookng for information on it. I've attached a file with a few identifying pictures. There is what looks to be a hand drawn print of John Keats and underneath it is printed "Copyright 1899, by Henry Altemus" In reading your website on how to identify pre or post 1900, I didn't see an explanaition for what I have...

John Keats
ENDYMION And Other Poems
ALL OF THIS IS PRINTED IN RED WITH GREEN SCROLLWORK AROUND AND THROUGH IT.

Philadelphia
Henry Altemus

There are two title pages, the one pictured in the attachment and the one described above.

I'm hoping you can tell me a little more about this small treasure of beautiful poems. Any and all information you can provide is greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1901-1902.

In these years the books of this series, all of which are reprints, had the picture of the lady on the left of the cover and any one of sixteen different flower pictures on the right half of the cover. Your book has the lilacs.

This book originally came within a labeled box.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have come across a small book published by your company and would like to know more about it. The book is the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. It measures approximately 4 1/4" x 6 1/4". It is bound in a cream colored leather on the back and spine and a faded burgundy leather on the right half of the cover with an embossed iris in the leather and on the left side of the cover the title and an iris in cream colored leather. There is no date inside. I am curious as to the publication date and its worth.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1905-1906. It originally came within a labeled box. See ../series/series143.htm.

In this condition it has no value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I haven't been able to find any information about this book (Evangeline and Other Poems) on your website. Can you tell me when it was published? Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1908-1909. All of the titles in this series are reprints. The books originally came within a labeled box. See: ../series/series143.htm

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi there, Another copy I couldn’t identify (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam). Pls help.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. As with all of the books in this series, it is a reprint. It was published in 1905-1906 and originally came within a labeled box. I am including a picture of what the box looks like. See ../series/series143.htm for more information.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I have a book (Line Upon Line) published by Altemus that I would like to sell. It was left in an apartment unit I've been cleaning by the previous tenant who just turned 101 years old. Can you help me find the value? I'm attaching photos, as well.

Thanks very much for any help you can provide.

A:  Your book was published in 1907 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It originally came in a labeled box.

This format has been seen with four different paste-ons (appliqués). Each has a different flower pictured. The other cover formats and a boxed book are shown here for completeness.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I recently purchased a copy of Manon Lescaut by your publishing house. It has no date in it. I wonder if you could look at a few photos attached and let me know what date you think it was published and any other info you may have such as monetary value.

A:  This book was published in 1899-1900 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. See ../series/series143.htm

It is a reprint originally came in a labeled box. The left side of the cover has a stereotypical decorative vine design. The right side has various floral or other artistic patterns.

As of this time I have seen 27 different right half covers. A typical box is shown on the series page.

The books of this series only have value if the title is collectible. Your title is not and thus the book has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi, Can you tell me about this book (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam)?

A:  This book was published in 1908 and 1909 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. As with all the books of this series it is a reprint and originally came in a labeled box. This book represents the last years of this series which was published with numerous different covers between 1896 and 1909. Generally, unless the title is special in some way, the books do not sell for more than a few dollars.

See ../series/series143.htm for more information.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Thank you for getting back to me so quickly! : ) Attached is a scan of the cover of my book (House of the Seven Gables). Thank you again.

A:  Your book is a 1901-1902 publication. It is part of the Petit Trianon Series. This is a publisher's series of books all of which are reprints. During this year, the books of this series were seen with any one of 16 different flowers on the right half of the cover.

See ../series/series143.htm

Because it is a reprint and not in the best shape, it only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I came across this book (Rip Van Winkle) at a yard sale today and was wondering what year it was published.

I love the nuveau cover so much the book is beautiful. Just trying to get some background on it.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902.

During that year this series of reprints was published in several formats. The left half of the cover was printed in either pink, blue or beige (most common). The right half of the cover had one of sixteen flower pictures.

For more information see ../series/series143.htm.