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:  Can you tell me a little more information about this book? Visits of Elizabeth. Looking at your site, I identified it as being in the Vademecum Series and probably published around 1901? I found the identical picture on the cover of Mulvaney Stories, shown as #35 and labeled as multiple rocks on hillside. Any other information you could give me, I would appreciate.

A:  You are correct. This book is part of the long running Vademecum Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints. The cover format changed every year or two. This cover is the 1901 cover. The appliqué is one of over forty possibilities.

For more information about these pictures see http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm.

Some examples of the 1901 cover are shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I am looking into a weird find! I bought this book and there is no way for me to tell how old it is, or how much it is worth! A Wonder Book. I can't find another like it! Can you help? I've attached some pictures to help you! Thank you in advance!

A:  Your book was published in 1907. It is part of the Vademecum Series and is a reprint.

It originally came within a box. See here.

Because it is not a very collectible title, it has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering if you could help me with this book. We received it as a donation to our church garage sale and I was trying to find out more information about it to help us put a price on it.

Here are some pictures.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904.

This title is a reprint.

It originally came in a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Unfortunately in this shape it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was hoping someone could provide me with some information on this book I found while cleaning out my grandmother’s attic. The Pilgrim's Progress

Here are some photos.

Is there a way to date this book? And find out what the value is?

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912. All the titles in this series are reprints.

This year’s books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

Your title is not especially collectible and is worth a couple of dollars.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Could you please tell me when this book was published? Lowell's Poems

A:  This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906. It has nominal value only.

During 1905-1906 the book covers have been seen with four different flower pictures.

All the books in this long running publisher’s series are reprints.

This year's titles were published within a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a volume - The Chimes - Charles Dickens - published by Henry Altemus Company. I am assuming this was published after 1900, but cannot find the cover in all the information on your website. I volunteer for a library and we received this as a donation and would like to put it up for sale on our website. Can you please help? My closest guess is 1907, but I can't tell if it is part of a series. Thank you - attached is a picture of the cover

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.

This series was a long running publisher's series of reprints.

In 1907 more than 40 different pictures have been seen on the cover appliqué.

These books originally were sold within labeled boxes. See here.

It has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have been going through a small box of antique books that my mother had put back. She has Alzheimer's and cannot remember where she bought these---this is one of the books so I was curious if you could provide information on it....Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

A:  This book is a reprint and was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. The Vademecum Series was the longest running Altemus publisher’s series. All of the books in this series are reprints. In 1915 all the books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

It has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Good day, I am looking for information about a book, Tales from Shakespeare. It does not have a copyright date and although there are photos of similar books, with the same title, I have yet to an exact match.

Attached are photos of the cover, the spine, the inside front pages one and two, and the inside back, along with a loose page.

Please feel free to contact me by return email or by phone. My information is listed below.

Thank you for your time and attention.

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.

It is a late reprint of this title. It originally was sold within a labeled box. (see here)

Finding an exact match may be difficult because in 1907 there were more than 40 different paste-on pictures used for the cover of any one title and the covers have been seen so far in six different colors. Thus, there are a possible 240 plus specific covers for any one title.

For more about this series you can look here: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

In terms of monetary value, it has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am trying to investigate information on a book, published by your company. The title of the book is Laddie and Miss Toosey's Mission. The actual book, in my possession, has no publication date, no author.

For reference, I have reviewed your online website. I am finding it contradictory, or perhaps it's my ignorance of book publishing. You provide the series in the Laddie Series, 1909-1909. However, there're varied references to the title, Laddie and Miss Toosey's Mission.

I read your reference/info on identifying the "series" publications. I did find the Vademecum Series, noted it as the largest of the book series. I also identified the particular book cover, used on my book (as you will note from the attached pictures) Green with a gold rose design, dated 1915.

It is not the generic light brown cover, you show in some of your referencing.

Am I close to finding out more particulars about "Laddie"?

At the rear of my book the only referral is under a listing of many books called: Altemus' Illustrated Vademecum Series. In the listings it shows as ..108 Laddie and Miss Toosey's Mission.

I have no book jacket. I have no ornamented box. In a rear book preface to other publications, in the series, it states "full cloth" and priced at forty cents.

A:  This title was published in numerous series and formats by Altemus. Your particular book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1915.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

This format originally came within a labeled box. See here.

It was published hundreds of times by numerous publishers from the mid 1800's on.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I recently acquired a book that I can't locate anywhere. It is WEIRD TALES, 1899. What I am finding is that every copy I've seen and every other frontispiece illustration used in this printing does not match the one I have. I've seen other sellers date this at 1895, when I think it is actually 1899.

The copyright page says 1895, but the illustration says 1899. The illustration is a ghastly color version of the ape cutting a woman's head off. I have not seen this in color anywhere else but in the book I have.

Can you tell me about it and it's possible value?

I am a new collector and after perusing the Altemus website, I am a big fan. All of your books are beautiful!

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. This cover format was published in a number of different colors (some examples are shown here) and sold within a labeled box.

All of the books in this series are reprints. Therefore the value of these titles is somewhat limited. On the other hand, there are Poe completists out there who want every Poe format. One of them might feel this book is worth a bit. Hard to say.