Q: Hello, I can’t seem to find a copy with this cover. Lady of the Lake

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904.

All of the titles in this series are reprints.

The left half of the cover of this format has been seen in blue, pink or beige. The right half has one of sixteen different flowers.

These books originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown below.

Q: Hello I am trying to figure out when this book was published and if I should let my children read it? A Child’s Garden of Verses

A: This book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. This series was published between 1908 and 1926. All of the titles were previously printed in the Young Folk’s Library Series. The only difference between the volumes of the two series is the covers.

There are a number of different covers associated with this series. They are linen swatch wrap around covers. This particular cover was used in the early and mid teens. It can be dated more precisely by using the ads in the back of the book.

These books were originally sold within a floral labeled box.

The entire linen swatch that this cover came from is shown below.

Q: How valuable is my book? Plain Tales From the Hills

A: This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. This publisher’s Series consisted of reprints only.
During this publication year the books were printed with various color covers. Some examples are shown below. Originally these volumes are boxed.

This title is not a very collectible one and therefore has nominal value.

Q: I received this very old book from a distant relative, it belonged to her Mother, I do believe this book is at least 100 years old.
The lady that gave it to me is now 84, so I know it is old. The inside cover says Evangeline a Tale of Acadie and other Poems by Henry W Longfellow, Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia, the binding is loose, but all the pages are present., easy to read.
Any idea on a date or value, it if is of value I may just sell it and give her the money, she could use it.

A: This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. It is a reprint. Originally it was published within a labeled box. An example is shown below.

It has no value.

Q: This is one of thousands of books my son “inherited” when he purchased a neighbor’s home after he passed. My researching brought me to your website….we are trying to get an idea of the value of some of these so when we bring in a dealer, or whoever, we have some idea of the value. You probably already know this is from the Belles-Lettres series #50. Conversation by Thomas De Quincey, approx 5″x7″, silver on white, copyright 1896, 47 numbered pages. In great shape with a few marks on the back….maybe a stain or ?. We would appreciate any info you can give us as to a value. We are just getting started on this room full of books so there may be others of this series. Any suggestions as to good searching sites. We check Ebay but there’s such a range of prices….and I read your piece about the pricing and all it takes into account.

A: You have identified this book correctly. The 31 small books in this series were published in 1896-1897 with a number of different covers. See below for examples.

See also: Belles-Lettres Series

Even though your book is in nice shape, there is very little demand for the book in this series. It will be difficult to get more than a few dollars in an auction or direct sale.

Q: I have a book called, The Creation Story by William E. Gladstone. There is a stamp on the inside front cover of the shop that sold it: JONES & WATSON – Jewelers, Opticians, Magazines, Books – KIRBYVILLE, TEXAS. I have attached a picture of the cover and the copyright page. Can I rely on this as the proper copyright – 1896 – or is there another date I should use?

A: This book was published as part of the In His Name Series in the 1904-1907 time frame.

This is a Format 3 book. These books came with a dust jacket that lists the titles of the series on the jacket front. There were four different covers-each with a different flower and rectangular idyllic picture. See below.

These titles are hard to sell at any price.

Q: Worth of 1895 copy of Oliver Wendel Holmes Poems. Good condition. (Disregard stamp.) Thanks.

A: This book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series. It is a reprint of a not very collectible title and thus has only nominal value.

Q: Hello, I was wondering if you could provide me with more info on this copy of Treasure Island. Thank you for your time.

A: Your book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series.
The 1897 books in this series were published with a number of different color covers. See below.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Buyer beware is a very appropriate expression when it comes to purchasing items on Ebay. Fortunately as opposed to many sites where books are for sale (Amazon, ABE, ETSY, etc., etc.,) most of the Ebay books come with pictures that can save the day and prevent a bad buy. I thought I would highlight some of these mistakes in the next few blogs.

Here is the Ebay blurb:
Essays of Elia -Charles Lamb – copyright 1899 1st. Ed. Hardcover Lit & Fiction

The Reality:
The Essays of Elia were first published in 1823 and 1833. Hundreds of publishing houses did reprints of this title.

The book shown here is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900.

Atemus first published this title in 1893 in its Altemus Library.

Thus not a true first edition nor an Altemus first edition.

Buyer beware is a very appropriate expression when it comes to purchasing items on Ebay. Fortunately as opposed to many sites where books are for sale (Amazon, ABE, ETSY, etc., etc.,) most of the Ebay books come with pictures that can save the day and prevent a bad buy. I thought I would highlight some of these mistakes in the next few blogs.

Here is the Ebay blurb:
TALES FROM SHAKSPEARE by Charles & Mary Lamb, Henry Altemus Co, PA, 1st Edition

Now the reality: The first edition of this title was published in 1807 and reprinted hundreds of times. This book is from the Altemus’ Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912.
But Altemus first published this title in 1892 in its Altemus Library.

Thus neither a true first edition or an Altemus first edition.