Q: I have attached scans of the cover and copyright pages of three books. Any help you can give me regarding the value and/or authenticity of these books would be greatly appreciated. Please advise. Uncle Tom’s Cabin

A: This book was published in 1894 as part of the Vademecum Series. This long running publisher’s series included only titles that are reprints. During 1894 the first 27 titles were published in a series that eventually would have more than 100 titles.

In 1894 this cloth cover was published in a number of different colors. Some are shown below.

Your book has nominal value.

Q: While cleaning out my mothers home we came upon this edition of Black Beauty. Any info you can provide would be so helpful. Thank you. It is inscribed with no desk jacket.

A: This book was published in 1896 as part of the Vademecum Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints and your volume is one of numerous reprints of this title published in the 1890’s. It originally came within a labeled box. It has nominal value.

Q: I have attached photos of the book “Thoughts of the Emperor published by Henry Altemus”. There are many of these around, however, I can’t seem to find another one with a cover like this one. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

A: Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1897. This is a very commonly found format.

Each of the years the Beauxarts Series was published, the cover format was changed. During 1897 this format was printed in a number of different colors. Some are shown below.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. This book only has nominal value.

Q: This is a book I received in my great aunt’s estate. It is published in 1895 by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia. The picture attached is true to the colors. Holmes’ Poems
Does it have any value?

A: This book is part of the Marqueterie Series. These volumes were published only in one format in 1899.

All of the titles in this series are reprints.

The books are not very common but only a few very collectible titles have any significant value. Your book only has nominal value.

Q: Can you tell me what this book might be worth?

The Last Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb
Published by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia
Copyright 1899

A picture of the cover is attached. The book is in very good condition.

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. It is a reprint as are all of the titles of this series. During 1901 these volumes’ covers were published in a number of different colors with more than 40 different appliqué pictures being possible. They were sold within a labeled box.

Since your book is a reprint of a not very collectible title, it only has nominal value.

Some books from this series are shown below.

Q: Can you identify this book? Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow

A: This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904. As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

In 1904 this cover was published in a number of colors. In addition four different appliqué flower pictures were used. It originally was sold within a labeled box. See below.

Q: Twice Told Tales
What is the worth of this book? Good Condition.

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1898. During that year this cover was seen in a number of different colors. See below for some examples.

As with all of the titles in this series it is a reprint. Since your book does not have an exceptionably sought after title, it only has nominal value.

Q: Attached are pictures of Spines and Covers we are unable to identify.
Two Years Before the Mast

A: This cover format is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1907. During this year there is a center front cover appliqué surrounded by acorns.

There are four different flower picture appliqués in this 1907 format.

These books originally came within a labeled box. All of the titles in this series are reprints. The four flower pictures as well as a representative box are shown below.

Q: I am a volunteer at a bookstore in Bluffton, Ohio. We received as a donation a set of 39 of William Shakespeare’s Plays. Using your website, I have determined that our set is of the Format 7 variety, which was published from 1906-1933. I was wondering if you could tell me how to precisely date the set? Or is it that each book in the set was published within that range of dates? Also, they are used and in good condition, is there any way you could tell me how much they’re worth?

A: The Format 7 books were published continuously between 1906 and 1933. The title pages of the earlier format 7 books are red (later are black).

See Shakespeare’s Plays for more information about this format.

Originally all these volumes were all housed in a large box.

These books are very common. Most often when offered for sale, there are no bidders. A few dollars for each book would be reasonable.

You might get a bit more if your books have dust jackets.

Examples of the dust jacket and the box are shown below.

Q: To whom it may concern,
I recently lost my Mother and found this Lucile
In her belongings with a handwritten enscription of 1904.
Any information would be so helpful.

A: This book was published in 1902 as part of the Vademecum Series.

All of the books in this series are reprints. In 1902 these volumes were published in a number of different colors with more than 40 appliqué pictures possible for the front cover.

Some examples are shown below.