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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I recently purchased a Henry Altemus book at a garage sale for 15 cents. After looking the book over I decided to research it on the publishers web site. The copyright page is dated for 1899 by Henry Altemus. Not publishing company. The book is the snow image by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I cannot find any other items in the book that refers it to a series. Is this considered an unknown book? Do you think the book has greater value? Thanks for your time.

A:  Actually that website on Altemus is mine. Your book can be found at Series 143. It is part of an Altemus publisher's series-The Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1899. It has little collector value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I can not find any information on this book and its cover. "Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Can you help?

A:  This book is part of Series #143 The Petit Trianon Series. Your book can be found here: Series 143

It is shown with the 1899 books. The key in identifying this book is the pattern on the left side of the cover. It is characteristic of the 1899 books in this series. There have been numerous right sided cover decorations. Thus far I have seen 24 different patterns. Incidentally, this format originally came in a labeled box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I am seeking information on the publishing date of a book that was published by your company. It is Poems Volume 1, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and I have attached two pictures of the book. I appreciate any information you can give me. Also, as you can see on the front cover, there seems to be some sort of black substance. Do you have any recommendations for getting this off the cover?

A:  Your book can be found here with the 1898 books. Vademecum Series I do not know how to remove the black substance.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me how old this book is and possibly how much it is worth

A:  Your book was published in 1901-1902.

See Petit Trianon Series

It has only nominal value.

This book like many of the books from this series, the Love and Friendship Series and the In His Name Series during any one year had an unchanging pattern on the left of the front cover. On the right of the cover however was one of 16 different flowers. They can be seen at the series site noted above.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi there,
I have an old copy of Nathaniel Hawthorne's Tanglewood Tales published by your company. I wonder if you could give me any information about this edition.
Thanks,

A:  Your book was published between 1909-1912 as part of the Vademecum Series. It originally came within a red labeled box.

It is one of a myriad of Altemus reprints of this title.

It has only nominal value.

See Series 180

Shakespeare's Plays

Q:  I was looking around the homepage but someone had done such a good job, I just couldn't find out information about the book I have. I bought my favorite play "Macbeth" (Half priced books) and when I got home a realized there is no information about it. As I learned it should be published around 1890's but that's all I know. It is different than others... the picture before the title page is different and the letters on the title page are black and red...
Title says:

Macbeth
by William Shakespeare
with The Historie of Macbeth
from Ralph Holinshed's chronicles of Scotland, 1577
Philadelphia Henry Altemus

There are no dates on the book. Has 192 pages. Thread binding.

I would be extremely happy if someone could help me out. And maybe let me know did I gain more than a great book.

A:  The Shakespeare's Plays Series included 33 books. It was published between 1899 and 1933. In 1899 the books listed Henry Altemus on the title page. Thereafter Henry Altemus Company was noted as the publisher. Thus, your book is an 1899 version. No real value but a nice book nonetheless.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I would like to confirm the date of publishing of this book. It's a curious read. I've enjoyed the artwork that was used on these books pictures on your site but have not come across this one yet. Thank you for any information you can share.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1907. For several years Altemus incorporated European paintings onto their covers. I have seen 42 different as of this date. Your picture is the far left of picture #8 and the far right of #2.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you help me identify this book of Poe's Poems? There is no copyright date in it, and I'd love to know how old it is. I can't find any covers like it online. Every page is intact, but no page with the copyright date. It was printed in Philadelphia by the Henry Altemus Company. In the back is a listing of other publications of Henry Altemus Company that are advertised as having Title pages, etched portraits, full cloth ivory finish and embossed gold and inlaid colors with side titles, boxed for 40 cents, with a second list of gift books for 50 cents each. There is also a listing of 'new' publications - Galopoff, the Talking Pony, by Tudor Jenks,Gypsy, the Talking Dog, by Tudor Jenks, Caps and Capers, by Bagrielle E. Jackson, Doughnuts and Diplomas, by Gabrielle E Jackson, For prey and Spolls; or The Boy Buccaneer, by Fred A Ober, and Tommy Foster's Adventures, by Fred A Ober. Since those are listed as new, I looked up Tommy Foster's Adventures, by Fred A Ober and found that it was published in 1901. That would mean that this Poe's Poems is at least that old, right? What is it's value?

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. This series consisted of numerous books which were all reprints of previously published works. Fiction, non fiction, essays, poetry, short stories all are seen in this series. Your book is the 1901-1902 version of this series. In those years the left side has been seen in blue, pink, and white. The blue and the pink are less common than the white. 16 different flower pictures have been seen on the right half of the cover. Yours is #3-Rose

These Poe's reprints are very common. Despite that, they are frequently advertised incorrectly as first editions and sell for relatively high sums on some auction sites. Good for the seller but unfortunate for the buyer.

The Eternal Life Series

Q:  I have this book can you tell me anything?

A:  This book is part of Series 80- The Eternal Life Series. This book is #8 in that series and was published between 1896 and 1898. Books of this series have the leatherette covers. At this point in time eight different covers have been seen for each title. These books have only nominal value.

In His Name Series

Q:  Hello, I inherited the attached book and after my dog ripped the first page I started to do some research on it (after putting him in the kennel of course)…but can’t find any info on it. There is no publication date except there is a date someone wrote (1908) by hand on the interior. When was this book published? Do you know anything about ‘Little Pillows’? It isn’t listed anywhere in the site. I assume it’s part of the reprint series?

A:  This book is part of the In His Name Series, Format 2. There are 16 possible flower picture. Yours is #10 Lily of the Valley. It was published in the 1903-1904 range. This book originally had a dust jacket.