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.

Series #4 Battleship Boys
Here is the blurb with its pictures:

The Battleship Boys in the Tropics 1912 1st Edition Frank Gee Patchin Honduras
The Battleship Boys in the Tropics or, Upholding the American Flag in a Honduras Revolution

By Frank Gee Patchin

Philadelphia:
Henry Altemus Company
1912 (1st Edition)

Approx Size: 5 x 7.75 inches (13 x 19.5 cms)
Hardback. 212, [4] (ads) printed pages

Now for the reality:

At the base of the copyright page you can see Printed in the U. S. A. This appeared on Altemus books beginning in about 1922.

Next the book has 212 pages. All of the juvenile series books had about 250 pages until they were abridged in 1930. Then the number of pages were cut to about 210-212.

Finally the first edition cover has colors as can be seen below.

Thus this is a post-1930 book and clearly not a first edition.

For help with dating an Altemus juvenile series book see: http://henryaltemus.com/juveniles/

Q: I’ve found this book (J. Cole) & not finding it on your site. I would love to have more information on it, at least a date. I’d be grateful for any information you can give though.

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900. It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

In 1900 his format was published in a number of different color covers. Some are shown below.

Today I am adding a new dust jacket picture for this series.

These books are relatively easy to date with or without the dust jacket.

The copyright of this title is 1920. On the bottom of the copyright page it states “Printed in the United States of America”. This phrase appeared on Altemus copyright pages beginning in 1922.

Between 1926 and 1931 the endpapers were grayish. This narrows down the publication date a bit more.

Finally the ads in the back of the book narrow the publication date down further. The latest book listed is Wee Folks’ Robinson Crusoe which was published in 1929. Thus 1929 is the date. 1930 books are not listed.

For more information see: http://www.henryaltemus.com/wee_books/index.htm

This title was published by the Henry Altemus Company in both cloth and ooze calf editions.

The cloth editions were priced at 50 cents (earliest), 60 cents and 75 cents (latest). The cloth books were published in different colors without known priorities but the dust jackets do differ between editions. Two jackets are shown below. I have not seen the jacket for the 50 cents book as of yet. Note the book’s price on the dust jacket cover.

The ooze calf edition cost $1.25 and originally came within a labeled box. The books are 5.75″ x 3.75″.

Generally, Altemus books published in 1922 or later state “Printed in the United States of America” at the bottom of the copyright page. Since none of these books note that blurb, they were all published prior to 1922.

All of the editions/formats have the identical 96 pages of sayings that are attributable to Abraham Lincoln.

Dust jacket of 60 cent books	Dust Jacket of 75 cent book	Book cover

Book cover	Ooze calf edition	Title page of all the books

See also Non Series #1

Q: This book has no copyright page. Can you tell me the date of my book? The Song of Hiawatha

A: This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. This particular cover was published in 1903-1904. During these two years the left half of the cover pictured a pedestal with the title above it. On the right half of the cover was one of sixteen different flowers.

The titles in this series are all reprints and came within a labeled box originally (see below).

Q: When was this book published?

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. This cover format was published in 1897.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. In 1897 the cover had a stereotypical design but the volumes were published in numerous different colors. Some are shown here.

Q: Dear Sirs; Looking to your website in identification of an Altemus book I recently uncovered in an attic box at an estate sale a copy of an Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It doesn’t quite match the covers I’ve seen before for any of the formats of the young people’s library formats. The copyright gives 1896 and it displays the binding style of format 1 but the cover I have not seen before. Book is in excellent shape, a solid piece. Found in the manner it was and my familiarity as a collector I cannot believe it is a reproduction or other. Can you please identify?

A: Your book is part of the Favorite Series.

It is a Format 1 style and was published in 1900-1901.

The text of the book is identical to the Young People’s Library text and why Altemus published this (and many other) titles in multiple series simultaneously is unclear.

The books of this series all came with dust jackets initially.

Although not rare, the volumes of this series are much less commonly found than those in the Young People’s Library.

Q: This is an 1895 printing of “Idylls of the King.” On the inside front cover, someone has written their name and the year 1896. Can you tell me what this is worth?

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1895.

All of the books in this series are reprints.

Since this is not a very collectible title and because it is in poor shape, it will be hard to sell at any price.

Q: I read your information on the Internet about these books and am sending you these pictures to see if you can tell me their approximate value. All three books have the blue endpapers. The Foolish Fox, Mother Goose Nursery Tales, The Robber Kitten

A: This series of little (5.5′ x 4.5″) books was published in three formats. The third format (pictured here) which has an appliqué picture placed on a stereotypical line drawn illustrated cover had 37 titles. The dust jackets matched the front covers.

The endpapers can be used to date the book. Blue endpapers were found in volumes published between 1923 and 1926. See sample picture below.

This format was published between 1917 and 1931. http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series186.htm
The series first two formats were published between 1904-1917. http://henryaltemus.com/series/series185.htm

The value of the books is dictated by the particular title, condition, presence of a dust jacket, etc. These three titles are not especially collectible and thus have limited value.

A couple of sample dust jackets are seen here.

Q: Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a volunteer at my local library and this book was donated in a book drive for re-sale with proceeds going to the library.
Can you provide any information about this book?
The book is bound in what appears to be lined calfskin. 237 pages
Pictures attached. The Lady of the Lake

A: Your book is part of the Gem Series and was published in 1913-1914.The limp velvet calf has been seen in brown or green. It originally came within a labeled box.

This title is a reprint.