Q: I have a copy of Kavanagh and was trying to place exactly what set this is part of and would welcome any details you can provide me with. Thank you.

A: Your book was published in 1899 and was part of the Vademecum Series.

All of the books in this series are reprints. During 1899 the covers in this series had a number of different colors. Some are shown below.

It originally came within a labeled box.

Q: I volunteer at a small rural library and wondered if this book has value. Little Bo-Peep

A: This book is part of the eight title Bo-Peep Series.

These books are all reprints and originally came with a dust jacket. A sample jacket from this series is shown below.

Unfortunately without a dust jacket the books in this series only have nominal value.

Q: I read about this series on your site. It’s a great site! Picked this up at an estate sale.
A Dream of Fair Women. Can you estimate the value?

A: This book is part of Format 3 of the ten volume Waistcoat Pocket Series. These little 4.5″ x 3′ books originally came within labeled box. An example is shown below.

These reprints only have nominal value.

Q: Through some research online, I finally stumbled upon your website. Hopefully you can help. Over some time I’ve had this book (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) on my shelf and have been trying to find exactly when it was published and if it is of any value. There’s an inscription inside dating back to 1901. I hope that you will have some answers. I attached images of the cover, spine, inscription, and a few illustrations.

A: Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902. It was originally published within a labeled box. During this year the lady on the left was published in blue, pink and beige (here). Examples shown below. On the right half of the cover one of sixteen flowers were pictured.
It only has nominal value.

Q: Dear Sir:
I have a copy of Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass” I have studied your web site (and your warnings about false claims on e-bay) and not been able to locate a similar edition. If I decide to sell the book (which I assume to be not very valuable), I do not want to misrepresent it. I am attaching photos of the cover, cover interior, the frontispiece and front illustration, some illustrations and some of the advertising (209 numbered pages, together with Altemus published by Henry Altemus advertising of books in various series). If you can tell me when it was published and whether it was part of a series, I would be most appreciative.

A: Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900. It originally came in a labeled box. In 1900 the covers in this series were stereotypical but have been seen in various colors. Some examples are shown below.

Most of the books from this series are not very valuable but there are Lewis Carroll collectors out there who may find your book very desirable.

I smiled when I saw your address. I graduated from Northwestern back in 1971. Of course, that was when Evanston was really a sleepy little town.

This sample book is from the early 1890’s. The door to door publisher’s representative would show this book to prospective buyers. This book highlights Format 1 of the Dore’s Masterpieces Series.

This is the second Salesman Sample book of this series that I have seen. This book differs a bit from the other one. Its condition is not quite as good and I think two of the covers that would have been part of the book may have been removed.

The external covers have Milton’s Paradise Lost and Dante’s Inferno, Note that the other sample book has these two covers internally. Milton’s Paradise Lost was bound upside down. The covers are 12″ x 9.75″.

Inside the front cover are three sample spines.

Within the book are excerpts from Dore’s Bible Gallery, Dante’s Inferno, and Milton’s Paradise Lost. Interestingly a one page flyer advertising Paradise Lost is tipped in at the first page of its excerpt.

In the back are a number of pages of customers who had ordered one of these books. The addresses are all in the northern California area (Sacramento, Stockton, etc.)

Q: Hello, I was wondering if you could provide any information about this particular copy of Byron’s ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage’.

A: Your book is part of the Sanspareil Series and was published in 1898.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. It originally came with a dust jacket. A representative dust jacket is shown below.
It has nominal value.

Q: I was going through some old family property and found this edition of Through the Looking Glass. I was wondering if you have an insight on its value and the other books that may accompany it.

A: Your book is part of the Young People’s Library, Format 2. It was published between 1898-1900. It originally had a dust jacket. Henry Altemus incorporated in 1900 so your book had to be published in 1900 or earlier.

You can date it exactly by looking at the dating information here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series202F2.htm

This is a very collectible book although it generally does not sell for as much as Carroll’s Alice book. Even though it is quite common, I have seen it sell for anywhere between $10-100. This price range is inexplicable.

Q: I have found an old printing of “The House of the Seven Gables”. It does not indicate if it is a part of a series. It is small, pocket size. I have reviewed your page on the Altemus company trying to find the book. I can see it was printed many times. What puzzles me is the forward, by Henry Tuckerman, has Nathaniel Hawthorne — 1807 — There is no death date. This would lead me to believe it was published before his death (1864), but I see no such listing in your page. I also have “Autocrat of the Breakfast Table”. Any thoughts?

A: Both of these books rare part of the Vademecum Series and were published in 1903. They originally came within a labeled box. All of the titles in this publisher’s series are reprints.

The appliqués on the front cover are parts of different European paintings. Altemus would cut up these paintings into usable slices and put different ones randomly onto different books. This process is shown at: http://www.henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm
An example is seen with the picture on your “Autocrat” book. Note the more complete picture which encompasses your book’s appliqué.

Here is the example with your “House of Seven Gables”.

Q: I’m hoping you can give me some information on this book I recently bought from a used book store. Tales from Shakespeare. Thank you

A: Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896 despite the inscription. It originally was published with a labeled box. All of the titles in this publisher’s series were reprints. It only has nominal value.