Henry Altemus Company

Salesman Dummy Book Dore's Masterpieces

This sample book is from the early 1890's. The door to door publisher's representative would show this book to prospective buyers. This book highlights Format 1 of the Dore's Masterpieces Series.

This is the second Salesman Sample book of this series that I have seen. This book differs a bit from the other one. Its condition is not quite as good and I think two of the covers that would have been part of the book may have been removed.

The external covers have Milton's Paradise Lost and Dante's Inferno. Note that the other sample book has these two covers internally. Milton's Paradise Lost was bound upside down. The covers are 12" x 9.75".

Inside the front cover are three sample spines.

Within the book are excerpts from Dore's Bible Gallery, Dante's Inferno, and Milton's Paradise Lost. Interestingly a one page flyer advertising Paradise Lost is tipped in at the first page of its excerpt.

In the back are a number of pages of customers who had ordered one ofthese books. The addresses are all in the northern California area (Sacramento, Stockton, etc.)

Altemus Correspondence

Here is a 1927 letter from the Henry Altemus Company to an unknown Book Review Editor touting the greatness of the Wages of Peril written by Jack Bechdolt. The letter summarizes the plot of the book.

There is a note on the bottom of the letter which says " Did not review".

Altemus Bindery

Women of the Old and New Testament Published by D. Appleton & Company 1850

Interesting that this 1850 title has been seen with two different bindings. The bindery identifier is noted on the bottom right of an endpaper: "Altemus Binder Philade"

I am not familiar with any other title that had two different Altemus bindings in one year.

Altemus Bindery

Pearls of American Poetry published by Wiley and Putnam 1847

This elegant book has the binder's imprint on the upper right corner of an endpaper. This is the only Wiley and Putnam book that I know of that was bound by Altemus.

Pictures courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Altemus Bindery

Psalms and Hymns published by Presbyterian Board of Publication 1843
Here is a nice example of an Altemus bindery product. Note that the identifier for the publisher is a stamped into the upper right corner of an endpaper.

Altemus binding examples from the 1840's are quite uncommonly seen.

Pictures are courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia.

Altemus & Co.- Tenth Annual Report of the Women's Christian Association (1881)

This 11 page pamphlet was published by the "Press of Altemus and Co. in 1881. Interestingly Altemus did not publish any other Annual Reports for this organization.

Pictures courtesy of The Library Company of Philadelphia. Special thanks to Nicole Joniec.

Altemus Bindery

Leaflets of Memory 1847

This earlier "Leaflets" was also bound by Altemus. As opposed to the later books, this binding actually is signed by Altemus. In the middle of the spine it says "Altemus". The later books note in the advertisement (preface) that Altemus was the binder.

The publisher of all the Leaflets of Memory was E. H. Butler. It would seem that all of these books (1840's and 1850's) were bound by Altemus but it is not proven as of yet.

Ledger/Blank Book

Here is another 19th century ledger published by Altemus and Co. These blank books are incredibly scarce. The only evidence that it was published by Altemus is the label that was pasted on the inside front cover. This was also the case with the other two ledgers/blank books shown on this page.

The Altemus 26 South Fourth Street address indicates a book from the 1880's. This ledger was obviously produced for the Safe Harbor Safe Deposit Company. It has 440 pages. It is 14 x 9.5.

Altemus Bindery

American Politics by Thomas V. Cooper C. R. Brodix, Chicago 1884

Here is an example of a leather bound book from the Altemus bindery. It was published in 1884 by the Chicago publisher C. R. Brodix. Note that this is basically the same book as the above 1883 book which was published by the Fireside Publishing Company. Note however that on the title page the 1884 book says "New and revised edition".

This is an example of an easy to identify Altemus bindery product since it says bound by Henry Altemus on the title page.

Altemus Bindery

Here is an 1851 book bound by Altemus and Co.

Christmas Blossoms by Uncle Thomas. Published by E. H. Butler & Co. 1851

Although this book cover does not indicate Altemus as the binder as the other Christmas Blossoms' books, there is little doubt that Altemus did the binding of this book. Note the vases on the 1848 and 1849 books. All the vases on all three vases are identical. These vases plus the fact that Altemus did the other two Christmas Blossoms's books make it a certainty that Altemus bound this book.