Henry Altemus Company

The following are questions submitted via email by our visitors.

If you have a question about Altemus books that you'd like answered please click on the Questions link at the bottom left of this page.

Boys and Girls Classics (newer)

Q:  we would like to know if this book (Mother Goose's Rhymes Jingles and Fairy Tales) belongs to henry altemus and what year it was printed, it has no copyright or author, and how much this book may be worth in your opinion we got it at a yard sale for two dollars and want to know if it was worth it.

A:  It was published in 1908 or later. The exact year can be determined by the ads in the back of the book.

You can find out more about your book here: ../series/series57.htm

It only has nominal value.

Life of Service Series

Q:  I recently in the past day acquired a Henry Altemus Company Hard Cover book from a garage sale for .50 Cents. Here are the known specs:

Publisher: Henry Altemus Company - Philadelphia
Title: The Greatest Thing In The World
Author Henry Drummond

From what I can gleam from your website, the book I have may be apart of the 'Friendship & Love Series' or the 'In His Name Series', Because it has the Pillar Supporting the Title on the Left and a Flowery cover on the right. But All I am sure of is that it was published some time after 1901 because of how the Publishers name is indicated.
Herein attached are photos of the Book in Question.

A:  Your book is part of the Life of Service Series.

See: ../series/series121.htm

As you can see it is a Format 2 book. Your book's format was published from 1915 to about 1924. I cannot narrow any particular book down further unless you have the dust jacket which has some information on the reverse.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you please tell me the publishing date of this version of The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Longfellow, how many copies were printed, the price of the copy at the time, and anything else that might be interesting?

A:  For information about your book see ../series/series143.htm

I do not know how many copies were printed. It cost 50 cents when new and came with a labeled box.

It has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi, Can you tell me if this book is rare? I can’t find it anywhere. It’s in really good condition. It’s Silas Marner by George Eliot. 1899. Please see the photos attached and I’d appreciate any information you can provide.

A:  Although your book is not rare, finding it in nice shape with the original labeled box is very uncommon.

See: ../series/series143.htm. If you scroll down you can see some of the variants of the 1899 format you have.

Vademecum Series

Q:  What can you tell me about this book (Vicar of Wakefield). It says copyrighted 1899 by Henry Altemus Company. Is it a first edition?

A:  Your book was published in 1903.

See: ../vademecum.htm and ../series/series180.htm

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Non Series #23

Q:  I have attached a picture of the Black Beauty book I have. Inside the book says copyright 1897 by Henry Altemus. I saw on the internet a discussion with someone else that has this book. Just wondered if you all came to any conclusion of a value on it?

A:  I believe that this book has only nominal value when it has no dust jacket. The dust jacket is pictured at ../images/NS_23.jpg

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello. I have a jacket that lists #117 Longfellow's Poem's Vol. 1 and #118 Longfellow's Poem's Vol. 11. It also says "ALTEMUS' ILLUSTRATED VADEMECUM SERIES" above each. I've attached pictures, but if you needed clearer ones, I'll use my camera. Could you please send me some information regarding this set? Thank you.

A:  You can find your books listed here ../series/series180.htm

They are 1907 publications. These book were published with various pictures on the front covers.

More information about these pictures can be found here ../vademecum.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me anything about this book (The Song of Hiawatha)? Henry Altemus Company in Philadelphia appears to be the publisher ?

I have attached a copy of the cover and the inside of it... there is no Copyright date that I can find.

Is it worth anything ??

A:  You can find your book here with the 1909-1912 books.

../series/series180.htm

It has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I would appreciate any information you could give me about this book (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland). Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series (../series/series143.htm) and was published in 1907. It originally came with a box. Most of the titles in this series have little or no value because they are reprints. Although your book is also a reprint, the title is one that is avidly collected.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi,
Do you know anything about this book, "The Little Lame Prince". I know it was published prior to 1902. Would you have an approximate value? Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1901-1902 as part of the Petit Trianon Series.
See ../series/series143.htm
Initially it came within a labeled box. Since it is a late reprint, it has only nominal value.