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 identify this book?...It was the Courtship of Miles Standish that is the Altemus book.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. See ../vademecum.htm. It is a 1907 publication.

The picture is #17 which is shown in the picture section on the page above. There are more than 40 pictures that Altemus used with this cover.

They were said to be European paintings. Unfortunately I have been unable to determine the original artists.

Most of the books in this series have very little value. The titles are not widely collected and the they are reprints.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I looked through the series numbers I saw you'd recommended for copies of The Scarlet Letter and didn't see any covers similar to this one (though I might have missed it). Might you be able to identify this copy? Just curious as to when it was published. The picture in the third photograph was copyrighted in 1899, so I know it was sometime after that.

A:  This cover format was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series. This series consisted of reprints of various works of fiction, poetry, essays, etc. Any one of more than forty paintings could possibly be seen within the gold gilt on the cover.

For all the different possibilities see ../vademecum.htm.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a copy of this book and can't find a picture of it on your site or on ebay or amazon. The book is approximately 4 x 6 and appears the be leather bound. It is a greenish maybe teal color cover it has a small picture in the center with a three story maybe store front with a awning over one door or window. It does not have a copy write date in it. The third page is a picture it reads at bottom see page 15. the next page is green and red top-John Bunyan middle-The Pilgrim's Progress bottom-Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company. Any idea how I can find out the value I can't find anything to compare it to.

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

In 1907, the Vademecum Series had the cover pattern of your book with one of more than forty possible pictures within the cover decoration.

If you look at the Vademecum site (../vademecum.htm), you will see that your book's picture is #9 and the book cover is shown as a 1907 cover.

Because this title is a reprint and your book is in poor shape, it probably has no value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I was trying to figure out the value of a book and was searching by title and publisher and came across your website. Here is a picture of the cover. I did see an almost identical cover of a different title but I didn't see anything about The House of the Seven Gables. I would like to sell this book but I have no idea how to figure out its value. There are no dates listed in the book so I am not sure when it is published. Anything you can tell me about this book, including any tips on selling books, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1903 as part of the Vademecum Series. See ../vademecum.htm and ../series/series180.htm.

This series consists of reprints only. In 1903 there were a number of different cover colors and more than forty different paintings used as appliques on the cover.

It only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have attached a photo of a book - Allegories of the Heart - that was presented to my Grandfather in 1903. Can you tell me the approximate publication date?

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1902.

See ../series/series180.htm

This series of reprints generally changed covers every year or two. During 1902 there were a number of different possible cover colors. In addition there were more than forty paintings seen within the front cover design.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I would like some information about my copy of the book, Treasure Island by Robert L. Stevenson (picture below and attached). It was published by the Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia, but no date is given. The cover is green cloth with elaborate embossed designs that may once have been gilded. The picture on the cover is faded, but may have been a pirate ship. The dedication is to S.L.O. and the book has 271 pages plus a list of other books available from the publisher. The size is 4 1/4" x 6 1/4". The spine is embossed with Treasure Island at the top and Altemus at the bottom. This book is similar to another copy of Treasure Island that I've seen which is from the Vademecum series, but the cover is different.

Any information you can give me about this book would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. This series is a multivolume, multiauthored series of numerous reprints ranging from fiction to poetry.

It was published between 1909 and 1912. See: ../series/series180.htm.

It originally came in a red box. The box is pictured on the website.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I bought this book (The Lady of the Lake) at a yardsale. I wasn't having much luck looking it up til I found your site. However, I did not find this exact combination (color and cover painting). The book has an extra page inserted that doesn't seem to go to this book ??? It also has some kind of a silver colored paper cut out embossed sticker looking thing with an image of a chariot on it. Do you know what it is? I will attempt to send photos.

A:  Your book has the 1901 cover from the Vademecum Series. ../vademecum.htm. Each year the of this series changed. Every cover came in a number of different covers.

In the 1901 books more than 40 different potential pictures exist. If you look at the pictures on the URL above, yours is #35. Each color cover can be seen with any picture. So there are 100's of different combinations for each year that these pictures were used -none rarer or more valuable than any other.

I have no idea what the sticker is. Sorry.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello. My friend bought this book for me the other day. I am not looking to sell it as I am a huge Alice in Wonderland collector, but I am wondering what kind of value (if any) there is behind it. I really don't know anything about it, sorry I am not of much help. The inside says Henry Altemus, copyright 1899. Please let me know any information you have on it.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. See ../series/series180.htm This series consisted of reprints of various works of fiction, essays, poetry, etc.

Most of the books in this series have only have nominal value. If a book has its original labeled box with it, it would be worth a bit more. Perhaps this book is slightly more valuable because of the volume of "Alice" collectors. Certainly still a very inexpensive book.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you give me any information about this book (A Christmas Carol)? When published, etc.?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (../series/series180.htm) and was published between 1909 and 1912. This series consists of reprints of essays, fiction, classics, poetry, etc. Your book originally came in a red labeled box.

Since it is a late reprint, it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I came across this book (A Christmas Carol) in my father's belongings. I wondered what it might be worth and where I might go to sell it?

A:  Your book was published in 1900 as part of the Vademecum Series. ../series/series180.htm

The books of this series are all reprints and in 1900 came in a labeled box.

Although A Christmas Carol is a very well known and love book, these rather ordinary reprints seldom sell for more than a few dollars.