Q: I would like to know something about this book (A Christmas Carol) if you could help. The first 4 pages are missing so I have know idea the year it was published, and can’t find one to compare it to.
Thank you for any help you can give me.

A: Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series.

This book style was published between 1899 and 1906 and originally came within a labeled box.

Your book can be dated rather accurately by looking at the ads in the back of the book and checking the dating information on the series page noted above.

As you know this title is a late reprint as the first edition was published in 1844.

Q: Hi, I have the book in the attachment (Kept for the Master’s Use). I am going to sell it on eBay for a client and I want to have an accurate listing. I have not found this cover in any of the images that I have researched. I believe that it is probably from the Nouvue series but I have found no date in the book. I would appreciate any information that you can give me. Is this book scarce?

A: Your book is from the Devotional Series.

It was originally sold with a labeled box in the 1901-1904 era.

Interestingly, this format has been seen with different appliqué pictures within the front cover decorative design. Examples are shown below.

Although the exact title in this exact format is uncommonly found, it is also not a title that is hard to find in numerous formats and it is not a book that is in great demand.

This is a very rare Altemus title. There are very few Altemus books (I think) of which I am not aware. Certainly there are some that I have not seen but at least I know that they exist. This book was totally new to me. It is not mentioned in any Altemus catalogue or trade journal. I suspect that there are other “unknown” Altemus books but when I find one, I think a special comment is merited. Thanks.

The Dog, Its Management and Diseases by John Woodroffe Hill
The Altemus edition of this book is quite scarce. It was published in 1894 and is a copy of the third edition that was first published in 1888 by Swan Sonnenschein & Co., a London firm. There are ten photogravure plates and thirty nine illustrations on wood. This book has 437 pages, including the index. It is 8″ x 5.75″.

The Altemus edition notes “Gentleman’s Library” at the top of the spine.

The first edition in 1878 and the second edition in 1881 were published in London by Bailliere, Tindall and Cox. Both of these books had 39 illustrations and 378 pages including the index. The third edition was first published in 1888 by the London firm of Swan Sonnenschein & Co.

In America in 1878 Alfred Cogswell published this title. This appears to be the first American edition.

In 1881 an edition was printed by William R. Jenkins, a New York veterinary book publisher. This firm also did later printings.

The third edition was first published in 1888 by the London firm of Swan Sonnenschein & Co. Interestingly another Philadelphia firm, Gebbie and Company, reprinted the third edition in 1888.

See also Non Series #43a.

Altemus published this 170 page book in two formats.

1. Boards with a dust jacket. 5.5″ x 4.25″. 75 cents
(The exact date of this format’s first publication is unclear but the range is 1923-1925.

2. Velvet calf, gilt top. Boxed. $2.00.

The “boards” book is shown below.

See also Non Series #31.

This little 6.25″ x 4.25″ 111 page book summarizes and explains each passage in “The Lord’s Prayer”.

Altemus published this title in two formats.
1. Cloth at $1.00
2. Art Binding, boxed at $1.50.

The cloth book is shown here. I have not seen the other format.

See also Non Series #91.

Q: I have attached pictures of a book (A Child’s Life of Christ) I have and am wondering if you have any idea of the value. It looks like, from the description on your website, it is a 1st Edition? Anyway, please take a look and see what you think!

A: Your book is part of The Young People’s Library, Format 1. It was published in 1895. There were two 1895 editions. The earlier one (yours) has only six books listed on the copyright page. Later 1895 editions have a book list that ends with Gulliver’s Travels.

It is not a widely collected title and in average shape it has only nominal value.

Q: Dear Sir/Ma’am,
My husband gave me a book he got from an estate sale titled “The Dore Bible Gallery” illustrated by Gustave Dore. It is signed as a gift from Uncle Ed Christmas 1888 and on the title page it has:

Philadelphia
Henry Altemus
507, 509, 511 and 513 Cherry Street

I would guess that it was published in 1887 but if you have any more information that would be helpful, it would be greatly appreciated.

I will insert the pictures for you to reference.

The book is 9.5 x 12 and has the same imprint as shown on format 1 #1 but it’s color is doesn’t match these. It is the same color as the second book on the third row (the grayer light blue) It’s also dated by the gift giver as 1888 but the text says they are published 1889 and later. Any input?

A: See Dore’s Masterpieces for information on your book.

These books were published in numerous colors. The colors shown on the website are the ones I have but are not all of the possible colors.

Books were frequently released for sale around Christmas time. The 1889 books would have been for sale starting in December, 1888. So the inscription makes sense.

Q: I have a book which I didn’t find right off on your site. The book is: Names For Children by Scovil. Can you give me more information?

The date is 1897 and published by Philadelphia Henry Altemus Company which contradicts your site’s assertion that books with Henry Altemus Company are printed 1900 and beyond.

Worldcat has only one listing for the book and is published by Altemus and dated 1897.

This book is definitely old and amazingly it has the original dust jacket which is in very nice condition considering. Attached are three photos – the D.J. mimics the book front. The paper of the D.J. is grey-tan (inside flap is a more grey color).

Any more info would be much appreciated.

A: Thank you for your pictures. This book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/images/NS_101.htm

Your book was published after 1900 as the imprint is Henry Altemus Company. The copyright is 1897 but as you know the copyright is not necessarily the date of publication. Altemus published this book over a number of years in a couple of different editions.

Since Altemus incorporated in 1900 all books with this imprint were published in 1900 or later. There are a few exceptions in which books with the imprint of Henry Altemus were published after 1900.

The presence or absence in the Worldcat or NUC or elsewhere is irrelevant since countless books and their various editions are not listed. It is a good place to start to research books but far from the final word.

Q: I have looked all over the internet for a book like this one and have had no luck. It is about 5 1/2 inches and the handwritten inscription says it was a gift in 1916. What can you tell me about this book (Rip Van Winkle)? I appreciate your time.

A: Hello, Your book is part of the Classics Series and was published in the 1907 or so era. It originally came with a dust jacket. An example is shown.

It only has nominal value.

Q: I purchased a copy of The Scarlet Letter, by Hawthorne, while on vacation in Florida. The cover design caught my attention and I just had to have it. I cannot for the life of me, however, find a similar copy online anywhere.
I read your blog post regarding the “preface to the second edition,” and had assumed that this must have been a reprinting error/quirk, but I wanted to make sure since it doesn’t appear to be dated anywhere.
I’ve attached a photo of the cover and the title page. It looks like a Beauxart series print but that’s just a guess on my part. I was wondering if you could possibly give me any further info regarding the book, its printing date, etc.

A: Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1902. It originally came in a labeled box. See below for an example.

As you have realized, your book is a reprint of the second edition, not the second edition.

This book only has nominal value.