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:  Hello - I found this book today at the Salvation Army. Can you tell me what year it was published? It's titled: The Aristocrat of the Breakfast Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes. Thanks a Million.

A:  Your book is part of the Vacedemecum Series and was published in 1897. See ../series/series179.htm. It originally came in a labeled box.

This is a publisher's series of reprints. Every year the same group of titles were published with different cover designs. Because it is a reprint and not a very collectible title, it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Good afternoon,
I have a book that was published by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia. It is Poems, Volume I by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. It appears to have been a gift given to somebody dated December 25, 1898.
Would you be able to provide any information on this book?
I didn't take a pic but I attached the cover from the website for identification purposes.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1898. It originally came within a slipcase labeled box. The books of 1898 all had the same cover decoration but have been seen with various colors.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. Because this title is not a particularly collectible one, the book only has nominal value.

For more information, see ../series/series179.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Trying to find the value of this thanks: can't find a copy of this cover. Thanks:)

A:  This book (Undine) is from the Vademecum Series. ../series/series179.htm

The cover is characteristic of the 1895 publications and has been seen in numerous colors.

Since it is a reprint and the title is not is in great demand, this book only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I just found this book while cleaning my book shelf, and wondered about it's value..history, etc. I'm sending additional photos of title and publishing.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1898.

During this year this cover pattern was published in a number of different colors.

It is a reprint and thus has only nominal value.

See ../series/series179.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  This book has been in our family for a while and would love to find out more about it. It is "The Wonder Book" by Nathaniel Hawthorn.
Any info would be great!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. This series is comprised of numerous reprints of poetry, essays, the classics, etc.

In 1897 the cover was published in a number of different colors while the underlying decorative pattern remained unchanged.

See ../series/series179.htm for more information.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I would like to get some more info on this book please (The Raven and Other Poems by Edgar Allan Poe).

A:  See ../series/series179.htm for more information.

This book is part of the Vademecum Series. This series includes various reprints of fiction, essays, poetry, etc.

Your book is a reprint and published in 1894-1895.

This book only has nominal value.

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

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.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Greetings, I have come across an old book and it seems to be dated from 1842 and published by Henry Altemus. The book is titled “RAB AND HIS FRIENDS,ETC.” Please see the attached photos. If you like I can take some better quality pictures.

I was curious as to whether or not it had any value or if you could provide me with any information. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896. The 1842 on the title page refers to the date that Altemus and Company was founded.

It is a reprint and only nominal value. See ../series/series179.htm for more information.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I have an Altemus book of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. IT looks very old with the preface to the 2nd edition 1850. However, there is no date as to when this edition came out. I am thinking late 1800s. Pics attached, thanks for your help.

A:  When Altemus published this title, it reprinted the book in its entirety-including the earlier dated preface.

Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (../series/series179.htm) and was published in 1897.