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 am curious to know if my book has any value.

Info I know...Kidnapped copyright 1898 by Altemus Publishing Philadelphia: series 101.

Any information will be helpful...

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series-Series #180 and was published in 1899. It originally came within a labeled box.

Since this is a reprint of a common title, it has little value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi there, I could not find this exact book (Uncle Tom's Cabin). I found one that is green the same picture dated I guess in 1901.
Can you tell me when this book was published and what the value of this book today?

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. Originally this book came in a labeled box. All of the books in this series are reprints.

The 1902 books have been seen with a number of different color covers. More than 40 different pictures have been seen on the cover.

For more information see ../vademecum.htm.

It only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Would like info on this book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin), please.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. It originally came within a labeled box.

The 1899 books of this series have been seen with many different colors. See series page.

Your book is a reprint as are all of the books of this large publisher's series.
It has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have this book and was wondering its value. In His Steps

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1915. It is a reprint of a title that is not widely collected. Thus, it only has nominal value. It originally came within a labeled box. A picture of a box is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have some old books that were given to me. While doing a little research about one of the books, "The Little Lame Prince," I came across your website. Following are a few photos of the book. I have a some questions about the book and I'm wondering if someone in your organization would be willing to chat with me.

A:  Your book was published in 1905-1906 as part of the Vademecum Series.

It originally came in a labeled box. It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can u help determine the year this book was published and if so if it's valuable
The Lady of the Lake by Sir Walter scott.

A:  In 1903 the Vademecum Series was published with the basic cover that your book has with one of more than 40 European paintings within the cover template.

Because of the width of the original paintings, two books may have parts of the same painting but may look totally different because they have different sections of the painting on their covers.

Since all of the titles in the Vademecum Series are reprints, only very collectible ones have any value. Unfortunately your book is not in that group. It will be a hard sell at any price.

Vademecum Series/Beauxarts Series (#48)

Q:  Hello, I recently picked up these two volumes for my wife. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1899 to 1902, I think. Through The Looking Glass was written in 1899. Both editions are described as being in Very Good condition. Could you give me some information on these two books? Are they worth anything? I bought them both because I thought they were nicely done. I know my wife will love them as she is a high school English teacher. I wanted to do something different this year for Christmas. Thank you for your time.

A:  You have two very nice books. The first editions were published in 1866 and 1871. Your books, of course, are later reprints. The Alice book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. The Through the looking Glass book was published in 1902 as part of the Beauxarts Series. Both books originally came in labeled boxes.

Although they are not the most collectible of the Altemus reprints (those books have illustrated covers), their contents are the same. Clearly they are in great shape and have a very nice appearance in their own right.

Value is difficult to determine. The reason is that although the books are quite common, because of the Alice interest, they occasionally sell for decent dollars. I have seen them sell for $5 and I have seen them sell for $50. Rarely should they go for more than that because they are so easy to find.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I have another book (She Stoops to Conquer) I hope you can tell me more about. From looking at the Henry Altemus web site it appears to be from the Vademecum Series, its #189 in the L'Art Nouveau Series and I think it would be dated in 1901.

I've looked on the internet for more information but there seem to be numerous books and I have no idea of what the value of this book would be.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1902. This title appeared in numerous Altemus Series. If you look at the pictures of the covers, you can identify where it belongs.

During 1902 this format was published with a number of different color covers. More than 40 different pictures have been seen within the cover template. See ../vademecum.htm.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi. I was wondering how much this book is worth if it is worth anything at all. It's A Sentimental Journey by Laurence Sterne.

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

During 1903, more than 40 pictures have been seen on the cover. Numerous colored covers were published. The book is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Could you folks give a publishing date for this book (Emerson's Essays). The title page states first series. Thanks.

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

During this year any one of more than 40 paste-on pictures have been seen on the cover. This cover was published in a number of different colors. It was originally sold with a labeled box.