Q: I found this book and was hoping you could give me some information about it. It has no publication date. Milton’s Poems. Thank you.

A: Your book is from the Classics Series.

It was published in the 1907-1909 era.

It originally came with a dust jacket. See below.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

This ad includes: Series 93- Gertrude Smith’s Bible Stories, Series 124- Little Bunnie Bunniekin Series, Series 128- Magic Drawing Book Series, Series 138- Painting Book Series, Series 144- Piffle Dot Drawing Books-First Series, Series 145- Piffle’s Dot Drawing Books-Second Series, Series 186- Wee Books for Wee Folks (third format), Series 187- Wee Folks Bible Stories Series, Series 189- Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series, Series 190- Wish Fairy Series, Series 199- Young Folks Puzzle Picture Series.

This accordion style advertising pamphlet has 8 sides (4 pages). The individual sheets are 5 x 3.5 with the total length being 14 inches. There are 11 series advertised within the flyer. Based on the books listed it appears that this is a 1922 piece. Jack the Giant Killer in the Wee Folks Cinderella Series was published in 1922. The next book in that series Jack and the Beanstalk was also published in 1922 but is not listed.

This pamphlet was apparently given to local book dealers who could imprint their name on it. See the ad.

This flyer is exceptionally rare as compared to the juvenile series book flyers seen in this section.

Most of the 7 books which comprise the Dore Masterpieces Series have been found with advertising flyers within them. This was not uncommon for Altemus books in this era. I have seen Dore flyers in several different styles.

1. Single page one sided flyers. There exist single advertising sheets for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Idylls of the King. These are 10.5 x 6.

2. Single sheet – two sided ads. This ad includes the 6 Dore Masterpieces and has Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress. This ad does not list the presentation editions and thus was from 1892 or later. They are 6.25 x 5.

3. Two 4 sided pamphlets have been seen. They list the same books-The Dore Bible Gallery, Paradise Lost, Dante’s Inferno and Dante’s Purgatory and Paradise. They both note the presentation editions. There are two differences: at the top of each page one says- NEW EDITION whereas the other states- ALTEMUS’ EDITION. The other difference is that the extra fine English Cloth books are priced at $4.00 in the former ads and $6.00 in the latter ads. Although one would assume that the higher price would signify a later date, there are no advertisements that ever showed the English Cloth book listed at $6.00. Thus, the ads can be assumed to be early in the publication history of these books but they cannot be dated precisely. Examples of pages are shown below.
        

4. One advertising flyer has been seen that has 8 panels. It includes all 7 of the Dore Masterpiece Books as well as Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. Interestingly, the heading at the top of each page says either “new edition” or “Altemus edition”. Books #1-4 are listed as Altemus Editions and they have the $6.00 price. Thus this flyer is of the same vintage as the ad #3 above that said Altemus Edition. The ads for The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Idylls of the King are identical to the single sheet ads.

Q: I have a copy of Outre Mer that has no copyright date, I would very much like to know it’s publication date. I thought perhaps that it was part of the L’Art Nouveau series. In the first few pages there is a picture of a man on a horse in battle if that is of any help. Thank you.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1908-1909.

It is a reprint.

Originally it was sold within a labeled box. See below.

Juvenile Series Ad #1-1910
Series #1-34

In the teens Altemus’ hugely popular boys’ and girls’ series books became the mainstay of its publishing business. Various advertisements were used by Altemus to increase the interest in these books. Accordion pamphlets advertising the many juvenile series were placed inside many books of this era. Currently I have seen a number of different advertisements that fit this description. They will be shown and described in chronological order (earliest to latest).

The first ad pamphlet appeared in 1910. Several 1910 books are seen here: Circus Boys, High School Girls, Automobile Girls, but no 1911 books are noted. These pamphlets varied in size. This one only has 4 panels per side. Some have as many as 6 panels per side. The entire piece is 13 x 6.25.
  

Non Series #28 Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress
This ad was found in the book of the same name. Although Altemus published this book over several years in the early 1890s, this ad is for the 1891 book.
During these two years Altemus offered two formats priced at $3.00 and $6.00. This can be seen at the bottom of the sheet. By 1892, the $6.00 book was no longer advertised. Instead a $5.00 Presentation book bound in Persian Levant Morocco was offered.

Q: What do you think of this? No date. Knickerbocker’s History of New York

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. and was published in 1903.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. The books were originally sold within a labeled boxes. An example is shown below.

During this year many different cloth colors have been seen. There were more than 40 appliqué pictures pasted on the cover template.

The picture on any one book is generally part of a larger picture. See below.

For more information about the paintings on the front covers of these books see Vademecum Series.

Q: I found your webpage while trying to research background on books we are selling from our too extensive collection!
I’ve been placing many of these on eBay but I don’t want to give improper information
This book Plain Tales From The Hills, Rudyard Kipling, Philadelphia, Henry Altemus is dated 1898 but there is a loose page – I thought might have broken free from book.
Is photo of author Rudyard Kipling – This photo is dated 1899 which contradicts the actual date of the book.
I have found many books listed stating this date and publishing but the do not look like this one.
I would like any information you can give me on this book and edition.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899.

The Altemus copyright date is not necessarily the same as the publication date.

This title is a reprint and originally was sold within a labeled box. See below.

The covers of this format have a stereotyped pattern on the left. As of this time 28 decorative patterns have been seen on the right half of the cover. See website.

Q: I have 3 books from Altemus with the following titles; Essays by Bacon, Heroes and Hero Worship by Carlisle, Greek Heroes by Kingsley. They must have been a gift as they are all dedicated to Georgia P. Taylor from Elsie, birthday June 29 ’98. Is there any value to the books.

A: These books are part of the Vademecum Series and were published in 1897.

The 1897 cover formats were seen in numerous colors. Some examples are shown. The books were originally sold within a labeled box. See below.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. Since your books do not have titles that are especially desired, their value is minimal.

Dore Masterpieces (Series 78)
This sheet was found in the book of the same name. This ad is identical to the Altemus catalogue listing except for the last paragraph which is not found in the catalogues. This broadside was used by Altemus from 1889 until the mid 1890s. Similar sheets have been seen for other Altemus Dore illustrated books.