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:  I have a volume - The Chimes - Charles Dickens - published by Henry Altemus Company. I am assuming this was published after 1900, but cannot find the cover in all the information on your website. I volunteer for a library and we received this as a donation and would like to put it up for sale on our website. Can you please help? My closest guess is 1907, but I can't tell if it is part of a series. Thank you - attached is a picture of the cover

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.

This series was a long running publisher's series of reprints.

In 1907 more than 40 different pictures have been seen on the cover appliqué.

These books originally were sold within labeled boxes. See here.

It has nominal value only.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have been going through a small box of antique books that my mother had put back. She has Alzheimer's and cannot remember where she bought these---this is one of the books so I was curious if you could provide information on it....Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

A:  This book is a reprint and was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. The Vademecum Series was the longest running Altemus publisher’s series. All of the books in this series are reprints. In 1915 all the books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

It has nominal value only.

Boys and Girls' Classics

Q:  I am wondering if you can tell me anything about the age and or the value of this book and if you could suggest how I would be able to sell it. Two Years Before the Mast
Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the 40 title Boys and Girls Classics Series and was published in the early 1900's. You can date it exactly by using this site.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. These books were originally sold in labeled boxes.

Your book only has nominal value.

Devotional Series

Q:  I have this copy of Drummonds Addresses. I could not find this cover online and wondered if you could tell me about it. There is no copyright year that I can find except it was published in Philadelphia at Henry Altemus Company.

A:  This book is part of the Devotional Series.

Your book is is a Format 5 volume.

It originally was sold within a labeled box.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Good day, I am looking for information about a book, Tales from Shakespeare. It does not have a copyright date and although there are photos of similar books, with the same title, I have yet to an exact match.

Attached are photos of the cover, the spine, the inside front pages one and two, and the inside back, along with a loose page.

Please feel free to contact me by return email or by phone. My information is listed below.

Thank you for your time and attention.

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.

It is a late reprint of this title. It originally was sold within a labeled box. (see here)

Finding an exact match may be difficult because in 1907 there were more than 40 different paste-on pictures used for the cover of any one title and the covers have been seen so far in six different colors. Thus, there are a possible 240 plus specific covers for any one title.

For more about this series you can look here: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

In terms of monetary value, it has nominal value only.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you give me any information on this book. Paul and Virginia. The front cover has some damage, but the back, spine and interior in good shape. How do you find the year printed? I could find no publishing details?

A:  This book is from the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1907. It is a reprint.

The 1907 cover was published with any one of four different appliqué flowers.

Originally it came within a labeled box. See here.

Because of the poor shape, it has no monetary value.

Golden Treasury Series

Q:  Just curious about this book. Daily Food for Christians

A:  Your book is part of the 49 volume Golden Treasury Series and was published in 1899-1900.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series99.htm

It is a reprint with nominal value only.

Waistcoat Pocket Series

Q:  Hello,
Might you have any information about this book? The Eve of St. Agnes

A:  Your book is part of the ten title Waistcoat Pocket Series.

It was published between 1906 and 1910. All the volumes in this series are reprints.

Originally it came within a labeled box. See here for an example.

It only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Recently found this lovely book and am having a hard time finding info on this particular book, A Christmas Carol.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904.

It originally came within a labeled box (see here). It is a reprint.

This format had a number of different covers. The left side with the pedestal has been seen in beige (your book), pink and blue. The latter two colors are relatively uncommon. The right half of the book has been seen with 16 different flowers. Thus, for any one title there are 48 variant covers.

Popular Series of Famous Authors

Q:  I am interested in the value of this book. Twice Told Tales. Thank you.

A:  Your book is from Series 150 Popular Series of Famous Authors. This seven book series was published in 1893. All of the titles are reprints.

These books originally came within dust jackets.

Because the titles are reprints of a very reprinted title, they only are worth a few dollars each.