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.

Love and Friendship Series

Q:  Hi, I have a 1896 copyrighted book by Emerson called "Love and Friendship" that was my fathers. It says it is published by the Henry Altemus Company. I can't seem to find an example of this book with the same cover as mine anywhere. Can you help me? Is the copyright correct?

A:  Your book belongs to the Love and Friendship Series.

This series had five different formats. This volume belongs to the first one published between 1901 and 1902.

Format 1 has the stereotyped design on the left half of the cover. The right half of the cover has either one of sixteen flower pictures or a picture of multiple little flowers (as is seen in your book).

These books came with a dust jacket (shown here).

The copyright of your book is correct but the publication date in this instance is years later.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have this book...Silas Marner...there is no copyright page or no indication who author is exceptionally on the binding....wondering if there is any value to it.

A:  This book is a reprint and part of the publisher's series: Vademecum Series

This cover was published in 1899. During this year, these books were printed with various color covers. (see here)

Vademecum Series

Q:  My cover does not match any I saw on your site. Appreciate any info. The Light of Asia

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1897. All of the books in this series are reprints and originally came within labeled boxes. (see here)

During 1897 the covers of this series came in multiple covers. Some example are shown here.

Non Series

Q:  I recently purchased a copy of ‘With Fire and Sword’ that looks like the ‘5th edition’ picture you have at the henryaltemus.com website but does differ.

Here are the differences between my copy and the website copy:
1) Title page: the website version title is in all caps, mine: caps and lower case
2) Title page: website - “HENRY ALTEMUS”, mine: “HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY”
3) Opposite Title page: mine doesn’t have the pic
4) Spine: my version has the letters ‘Si lwi’ by the sword handle - could this be library markings?

2 questions:
1) Would you know the published year of the version I have?
2) Do you know why both ‘5th edition’ books are different?

A:  Your book is a later version than the one on the website. Altemus incorporated in 1900. Thus any book that has the imprint Henry Altemus Company was published in 1900 or later. The later version may not have originally had the frontispiece picture. I suppose someone could have also removed it.

The lettering on the spine was a later addition. By whom or for what purpose is anyone's guess.

Both books were from the Polish fifth edition. They are essentially the same except that your book was published a couple years later. I suspect your book was published in the 1900 to 1902 era. The exact date is impossible to know.

The earlier book is shown here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, could you please tell me about this book ? I can't seem to find anything about it. Appreciate it!! The House of the Seven Gables

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1894 and is a reprint. Originally it came in a labeled box. It has only nominal value.

Non Series

Q:  I’ve had this book in my possession for about 20 years now (I liked the tipped-on color cover insert) and didn’t think to look into it’s history until now. Can you give me any information on it? Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Many thanks!

A:  Your book is an Alice that was published in non series form in 1916. It is one of the rarest of the Altemus Alice formats. I have noted it with two different cover colors: green and blue. It originally came within a labeled box which has not been seen.

It appears to have been published in two different formats. One has plain endpapers and a tipped in plate. This is the later book. The other (earlier) format has illustrated endpapers without the tipped in picture.

See: http://www.henryaltemus.com/images/NS_4.htm

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I have a Nursery Tales copyright 1904 by Henry Altemus 45 illustrations by J.R. Neil wondering value.

A:  This book is from the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series and is part of the first format. This style was only published in 1904. Originally it was boxed with another title from this series, Nursery Rhymes. Subsequently this title was published in a number of formats.

Later in 1904 the green cloth book was printed and was followed in about 1908 by the beige cloth book.

In 1916 the title was changed to Mother Goose's Nursery Tales.

In 1918 the format was changed again. This format was unchanged until 1933. (shown here)

Classics Series

Q:  Hi! Any info on this title? Macbeth

A:  Hello, This book is either part of the Classics Series or the Slip in the Pocket Series. Without the dust jacket it is impossible to tell. It was published sometime between 1907 and the early teens.

The front cover of the jacket names the series. Examples shown here and here.

All of the books of these series are reprints. Since your title is very common and not in great demand, it has little value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was recently going through some old books I have that either came from my grandmother’s house or from a library book sale. I’m thinking it came from my grandmother’s house, though, as there are no library markings on it. Longfellow's Poems Volume II

Anyway, I was curious as to when it was published; but there is no date listed anywhere in the book. So I did some research on your website and have come to the conclusion that it was either printed in 1903 or 1904. I found a picture of a book with the same cover, but different title on your website. This is based on information I found on your website at the links below:

http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm

http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/images/S143_1903_v224.jpg

Attached are a picture of the cover and of the inside title page. Would you say this is a rather accurate assessment of the publishing date?

As you can see, it’s not in the greatest of shape; but I don’t really care about that as I love antiques. And if it did come from my grandmother’s house, it also has sentimental value. I find it interesting that it starts at page 187, though. But I’m assuming that’s because it’s Volume II.

Anyway, I was just curious to know what else you may know about it; and I thought you may find these pictures interesting.

A:  Your research is right on target. This title is part of a publisher's series. These series which were produced by numerous firms generally included a number of books that required no author reimbursement. All the titles here were reprints.

In this series the cover had a stereotypical left sided pedestal design and one of 16 flower pictures on the right. The volumes originally came within a labeled box. (An example is here.)

Interestingly the pedestal design area has been seen in beige (most common), blue, pink and this format was also published in ooze calf (least common).

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I recently purchased this book entitled "Marmion" by Sir Walter Scott. Any information you can provide about its provenance and value would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1905-1906 as part of the Petit Trianon Series.

It is a reprint and originally came within a labeled box. See an example here.

During this format's run, the book covers had one of four flower designs.

It has nominal value only.