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.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Looking for info on this book, Allegories of the Heart, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Any info you can offer would be much appreciated. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906.

It originally came within a labeled box. An example is here.

It is a reprint with nominal value only.

Non Series #64 Grimm's Fairy Tales

Q:  I believe that this book was published in 1888 w/Grimm's Goblins. Inside are ten beautiful illustrations. There is an introduction by John Ruskin but no publication date, etc.

It is in excellent condition. Can you give me the estimated value of this book?

A:  Your book was published in 1918. Henry Altemus Co - Non Series #64

Without the dust jacket, even in nice condition, it is worth less than $20.

Shown here is the other 1918 format.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  A Wonder Book. Nathaniel Hawthorne. Illustrated. No publication date. Inscribed with Mary Brooks signature, class of Reduman S. S. Ephiphany 1900. Miss Banks Class.

A:  Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Sanspareil Series. This is the cover pattern for all of the 110 titles of this year. All of the volumes are reprints.
Henry Altemus Company - Sanspareil Series 163
The covers have been seen in several colors and originally this book came with a dust jacket. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Could you please tell me what year this book was out on the shelfs and what the value might be?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. All of the titles in this series are reprints and originally came within a labeled box.

Your book only has nominal value.

The covers have been seen with various colors.

Grolier Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering if you could give me any info on this copy of THE RUBAIYAT OF OMAR KHAYYAM. Any info would be help full I believe it's cover is suede?

A:  The Grolier Series is a 28 volume group of ooze-calf covered titles. They are all reprints which were published by Altemus in 1904.

Green, brown and red color covers have been seen. These books originally came within a labeled box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I hope you can help with the date of a recent Henry Altemus edition of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. I've attached pics of the cover (2) & inside page. The copyright date page shows 1895 by Henry Altemus.
Any light you can throw on this will be appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. This publisher’s series contained only reprinted titles.
Your book was published in 1896. During that year this was the cover pattern although different color covers have been seen. See here.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  Was wondering if you could tell me a bit about this edition of Black Beauty? Thanks for your time.

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. Henry Altemus Company - Boys and Girls Classics (new) Series 57

This series of fifteen reprints was published between 1908 and 1926. The internal text and title page comes from the plates of Young People’s Library books.

The cover is a linen swatch. For more about the linen swatches see the webpage for this series.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Any information about this book would be appreciated. The Vicar of Wakefield

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1894. This publisher’s series of reprints generally had a different cover each year. This is the 1894 cover.

These books have been seen in a number of different colors. See here.

Popular Series of Popular Authors

Q:  I found this copy of Drummond's Addresses at a flea market and I have struggled to discern what series it is from your website. The inside says Philadelphia Henry Altemus 1893. Thank you so much!

A:  This book belongs to the seven title Popular Series of Popular Authors. All of the books were published in 1893 and are reprints. They originally came with dust jackets. See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series150.htm

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello! My wife’s grandmother gave her this book years ago, and we are wanting to identify the date. A Christmas Carol. Can you help us figure out which year this Altemus book was published? It just says Altemus on the side and doesn’t have identifying information on the first page like most books.

A:  Your book was published in 1908-1909 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. As with all of the books in this series, it is a reprint.

It originally came within a labeled box. See here.