Poor Boys’ Chances by John Habberton 1900

Altemus published this title in a number of different editions. Some are non series whereas others are part of a series. The cover picture (except for colors and gilt) is the same for all the these titles. Curtis Wager-Smith illustrated the frontispiece. There are numerous other attributed and unattributed pictures mostly taken from other works.

John Habberton (1842-1921) was born in New York and after serving in the Civil War he worked for the New York Herald as an editorial writer. His most famous work was Helen’s babies which was first published by Loring in 1876. During the latter part of the nineteenth century it was among the most popular juvenile books in print. Some of his other books include Budge and Toddie, The Chautauquans, Caleb Wright, Everybody’s Chance, and All He Knew.

Non Series Editions:

These books are 7.5 x 5.25. 280 pages.

The first edition, first impression has all glossy pages. The title page does not have the copyright date on it whereas the copyright page does have the 1900 date. The Ellis History books in the back advertisements cost 75 cents. The rectangle surrounding the the information on the title page is red-lined, not black like in the later books.

Note that the copyright date is on the copyright page not on the title page.

Ellis book price is 75 cents.

The second impression also has all glossy pages. It does however note the 1900 copyright date on the title page and the Ellis books are now listed at $1.00 each. There is no copyright page. The rectangle surrounding the the information on the title page is black-lined, not red like in the earlier books.

Series editions:

Young People’s Library, Format 2 (late 1900)
Note the characteristic spine of the Format 2, Young People’s Library. This book was added to the series (based on the ads) late in 1900. It is 280 pages and is 6.75 x 5.25.

Series #56 Boys and Girls Booklovers Series (1905)
These books have the same cover pictures as the other editions but are smaller in size: 7 x 4.5. They have red lettering on the cover. All 280 pages are on plain paper.

Series #125 Little Men and Women Series (1907-)
This 7.5 x 5. 280 plain paper page book has red lettering on the familiarly illustrated cover. The ads in the back of the book list titles for this series.

See also Non Series #112

Human Nature in Selling Goods by James H. Collins 1909

This 6.25 x 4.5 title has 93 pages. It was published in boards. There are no illustrations. The original price was 50 cents. The copyright was in 1908 by the Curtis Publishing Company. Curtis published The Saturday Evening Post. The text of this book originally appeared in the May 16, 1908 edition of The Saturday Evening Post. (See below.)

There is no evidence that Altemus published any other editions of this volume.

James H. Collins (1873-), a Detroit native, was an advertising agent as well as a writer. He wrote numerous articles for The Saturday Evening Post on various business topics.

Here is the article from the May 16, 1908 Saturday Evening Post. There are illustrations in the magazine by F. Vaux Wilson.

See also Non Series #73

Klondike and the Yukon Country by L. A. Coolidge 1897

The first edition of this title was published in wraps and in cloth. The books are 7 x 5 and have 213 pages plus ads. There are a number of maps and unattributed photographs. The book in wraps cost 50 cents. The cloth book was priced at $1.00.

First Edition First Edition  

A second edition published later in 1897 has several new chapters and has 251 pages. This book has endpaper maps and a number of new photographs. The preface is dated September, 1897.

Here is an interesting flyer that advertises Klondike written by L. A. Coolidge. It is 5.75 x 3.5. This piece was published by the Thomson Stationery Company located in Vancouver. Two Klondike books are advertised.

Below is a contemporaneous review of this book.

See also Non Series #84

The Art of Handling Men James H. Collins 1910

This 6.25 x 4.5 book has 143 pages. Altemus only published one edition of this book. It has board covers. It originally was priced at 50 cents.

James H. Collins (1873-), a Detroit native, was an advertising agent as well as a writer. He wrote numerous articles for The Saturday Evening Post on various business topics.

Dust jacket Board covers
 

See also Non Series #12

Little Black Rabbit Kenneth Graham Duffield 1918

There are two Altemus formats of this title. The cloth covers have the same picture but there is different colored lettering. One of the books had gold gilt letters whereas the other book has red lettering. There are 17 full page illustrations by John F. Burroughs. The book cost $1.50.

I believe that the gold gilt lettered cover is the first edition-but I am not certain.

 

See also Non Series #87

Bible Stories Retold by Hiram W. Hayes 1930

This 127 page book is 7.5 x 5.25. This book consists of a number of biblical tales which are written for children. There are fourteen unattributed glossy illustrations. This book cost $1.00.

Earlier editions of this title were published by Davis and Bond as well as The Harmony Shop, both Boston publishing houses. The Howerton Press in Washington, D. C. also published this title.

See also Non Series #21

Abraham Lincoln’s Don’ts Edited by Wayne Whipple 1918

This title was published by Altemus: editions in cloth (50 cents early and 60 cents later) and ooze calf ($1.25). The books contain the identical text of 96 pages of sayings that are attributed to Lincoln. 5.5 x 3.5.

Two different cloth covers have been seen. No priority is known. The ooze calf book originally came within a labeled box.

Dust jacket of cloth books    
 
Ooze calf edition Title page of both formats

See also Non Series #1

Poor Richard Jr’s Almanack

This book includes a pithy witticism for each day of the year. There is no entry for February 29th.

The sayings in this book came from Poor Richard Jr’s Philosophy Department previously published in the Saturday Evening Post. They were written by Reginald Wright Kauffman.

Here is an example page:

This book was published in both board covers (50 cents) and ooze calf ($1.00). The board cover volumes have been seen with two covers that have the same illustration but slightly different coloring. The ooze calf book originally came within a labeled box.

I believe that the board book that has the yellow shutters is the earlier one but I have no absolute proof. Both board books have identical text in 126 pages and are 5.25 x 4.

See also Non Series #113