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:  I have a copy of Black Beauty from your publishing company. I am curious as to its age and value. I believe it may have belonged to my father who was born in 1921 or maybe it was handed down to him by a parent. It is in good condition and doesn't smell. One of the pictures has come apart from the binding, but it is not lost. Thank you for any information you can give me.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came in a labeled box. It is a reprint.

Although this is a popular title, there are countless numbers of these reprints floating around. So your book has only nominal value.

During this year, the books in this series have been seen with a number of different cover colors. More than 40 different cover appliqués have been noted. Generally the painting on the cover is only part of a larger picture. Various sections of a painting appeared on the book covers.

See this page for more information: ../vademecum.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I came across this old book (The House of the Seven Gables) and was wanting a little info and if it holds any value? Thank you for your time.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.

These 1901 books came in a number of different colors. More than 43 different cover appliqués have been seen. The books originally came within labeled box.

Only very collectible titles have any real value. Your book is not one of them. It only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Found this book (Balzac's Shorter Stories) and cannot find any information on it. Curiosity has gotten the best of me.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. See ../vademecum.htm

In 1901 this series was published in at least seven cover colors. More than 43 paste-ons (appliqués) have been seen. For more information see the website noted above.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a Black Beauty Book by Sewell that I rescued from a trash dumpster that a brand store threw out. It has no copyright date in it. In the back of the book is a listing of all books your company published so I am assuming you published this one also.

I did look on your site but couldn’t find a Black Beauty book that looked like this one. I am just wanting to know a publishing date for this book, please.

I have attached a picture.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912. All of the titles in this series are reprints. This format was originally published within a labeled red box. See picture.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found an old book in my grandmothers home title is Black Rock Tale of the Selkirks. It has a leather type of dust cover says Whittier, There is an inscription inside Lucy E. Swisher, Meadville, PA Dec 25th 1901. I believe Lucy was my grandmothers sister, this may have been a Christmas gift, my great grandfather was a traveling preacher. I have attached pictures. Any information would be appreciated. There is not any dates as of printing it just says Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.

During this year the more than 40 different appliqué pictures have been seen on at least 7 different color covers.

The jacket is not an original one. This book came within a labeled box. The author is Ralph Connor. Whittier has no relationship to this book.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

For more information see ../vademecum.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi, I stumbled upon this copy of Uncle Tom's Cabin but unfortunately I've been unable to find any information on it. Can you give me any info you have on it, should I keep it, does it have any value, and if so where would I sell it. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated and thanks for your time.

A:  This book was published in 1901 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came within a labeled box. It is one of a myriad of reprints of this title that were done by the reprint publishers of the era. It has little value.

This 1901 Altemus format has been seen with many color covers. More than forty paste-on (appliqués) pictures have been noted. See: ../vademecum.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have The Merchant of Venice, with The Adventures of Giannetto, and other Illustrative Pieces. There are no dates, and the book itself is small in size. I bought it at an antique shop and was curious about how old it is and if it has any value other than how much I like it. Can you assist me?

A:  This book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series. This series is comprised of numerous reprints of fiction, essays, poetry, etc. The cover of this format has been seen in numerous colors. In addition the painting on the cover of your book is one of more than forty that have been noted.

These books originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Would you kindly tell me if this book (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) has any value....(aside from the bountiful wisdom within!)

Inside page says "Philadelphia. Henry Altemus Company". So it is apparently post 1900
Book measures 6.25 x 4.25
I can't find any dates whatsoever.

Thank you very much.

A:  Your book was published between 1909 and 1912 as part of the Vademecum Series.

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

All the books in this series are reprints so unless your book has a very collectable title it will have only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found this black beauty book in my storage... could you tell me more about it?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was originally sold within a labeled box. It was published in 1903.

It is a reprint and has limited value.

The painting on the front comes from a larger picture. You can see details here: ../vademecum.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  May I have some info on this book and its estimated value? Thank you
UNCLE TOM'S CABIN illustrated copyright 1894 green cover with lighthouse

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. It originally came with a labeled box. The books of this format have been seen with a number of different cover colors and more than forty different cover pictures.

Your book is a reprint and has limited value. There are a number of collectors however of this title so you never know what someone might pay.