Question & Answer Series 180 Vademecum Series

Q: Hi. I looked on your website, and was unable to determine the date of this book. Would appreciate your help in determining the date and value.

The pages that say “Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia”, and “James Russell Lowell Poems Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company” are separated from the binding, and are somewhat glossy. In other words, they are not the same type of paper in the rest of the book.

It’s approx. 6 3/8″L by 4 3/8″ W by 15/16″ thick.

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903.
It is a reprint with nominal value.

The books of this year were seen with various color covers surrounding a European painting appliqué.

These volumes originally sold with labeled boxed. An example is below.

For more information see: Henry Altemus Company – Vademecum Series/European Artists

Question & Answer Series 189 Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series

Q: I read with great interest your page on the history of the Tale of Peter Rabbit and related pages. I found an old edition among my father’s papers that I want to keep it but my brother wants to sell. I’m frankly hoping it isn’t that valuable so we can keep it. May I ask if I’ve dated it correctly? I’ve attached scans.

Your wonderfully informative pages suggest that it’s a late version of the 3rd edition. The title page doesn’t mention “Wee Books” or “Wee Books for Wee Folks”, just “Peter Rabbit Series”. The endpaper art suggests this is an edition from between 1926 and 1931. This would fit as my father was born in 1921 (his name is neatly written into the “This Book Belongs to…” box). It has no “Wee Books” info on the reverse cover, but rather has four pages appended after the page with “The End” listing the entire “Wee Books” series.

I attach scans of the cover, the endpaper art, the title page and the first of the closing “Wee Books” promotional pages.

If I’m correct, I’d guess is that this edition isn’t worth all that much on the rare books market and is more to be treasured for its sentimental value to the family. I’d appreciate your confirmation.

A: These “Wee” Altemus book can be dated relatively easily and you have done so. The endpapers can give a quick range. The grey ones here were used between 1926 and 1931.

For more info see: Henry Altemus Company – Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series 189

You are correct about the value. The book has little monetary value since it is so common. The exception would be if it had the dust jacket.

An example is shown below.

Question & Answer Series 38 Altemus Library

Q: I have a book Published by Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia. It was given as a gift in 1917. Title is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. It is in very good condition. Wondering what the value is. It is hard bound red with gold lettering.

A: This book was published in 1913-1914 as part of the Altemus Library. It originally had a dust jacket that matched the cover.

The title is a reprint but still rather popular. $10-15 is a reasonable estimate of value.

Question & Answer Series 180 Vademecum Series

Q: Hello! I found a copy of House of the Seven Gables in my basement, and am in need of a little bit more information on it. I don’t need the value or anything, just enough information to get the ball rolling on a research paper.
Thank you!

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

It originally was sold within a labeled box. Example is below.

Question & Answer Series 164 Shakespeare’s Plays

Q: I have a number of Shakespeare plays published by your company, the attached being one of them (As You Like It). Can you tell me anything about this one, especially the date? I believe they were all purchased around the same time and have identical cloth covers. Thank you!

A: Your books were published between 1906-1933. They are Format 7 in the Shakespeare’s Plays Series.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series164.htm

This is the most commonly seen format in a very common series.

There is nothing that distinguishes the books in this format regarding actual date of publication.

Question & Answer Series 202 Young People’s Library, Format 1

Q: Hello I have been given some of my great grandmothers books and was told my copy of Through the Looking Glass is a rare first edition version one. I have attached some pictures could you confirm this for me and possibly direct me to the best place to sell such an item?

A: Your “Through the Looking Glass” is not a first edition. It is one of a myriad of reprints published in the 1890’s.

It is the first Altemus edition of this title. It is part of the Young People’s Library, Format 1 and was published in 1895.

See Young People’s Library Series 202 Format 1

Because of condition, its value is significantly limited.

Question & Answer Series 69 Classics Series

Q: Going through some of my grandmothers old books and found this one. I love old books and would just like to get some info on it, like date of publication etc. I can’t seem to find this version on the internet like I have with the other books. Macbeth

Thank you so much! Let me know if you need additional pictures 🙂

A: Your book is part of the Classics Series.

It was published in the 1907-1909 era.

Originally it was sold with a dust jacket.

It is a reprint.

Question & Answer Series 180 Vademecum Series

Q: Just found this in my dads old stuff he recently passed away. He has two but the other was a school book. I thought it would be neat to pass this to my children but there is not date of publish. Wasnt sure if i could find this out.
Thanks.

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906. It originally came within a labeled box. See below.

All the titles in this series are reprints.

During this year the books in this series had four different flower appliqués on the covers which came in a number of different colors. The flowers are shown below.

See: Henry Altemus Company – Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180