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.

Library of Standard Authors

Q:  I just purchased a book "House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, copyright 1892, by Henry Altemus. Bound in a decorative burgundy and green with red flowers, with gold highlights. I paid $20 at an estate sale. From what I can see on this web site, I overpaid. Any additional information would be appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1897 and is part of the Library of Standard Authors.

It is a reprint and has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Can you tell me about this book? A Wonder Book

A:  This book was published in 1897 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint which originally was sold within a labeled box.

All of the titles in this series are reprints.

During this year the left half of the cover had the dot pattern whereas the right half of the cover had one of many different decorative patterns.

As of this time I have seen 15 different patterns. Some examples are shown here.

Classics Series

Q:  I have this copy of "The man without a country" by Hale. I was unable to find this date of publication and or cover design on your web-site. I purchased this in the early 70's and had forgotten about it! Any information you give would be appreciated!

A:  This book is #22 in the Classics Series and was published in 1907. It was originally published with a dust jacket. A representative jacket is shown here.

It is a reprint as are all of the title in this series.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I was just wondering if you could tell me if the book was worth anything. Peter Rabbit. Found it recently and didn't know what to do with it. Thank you.

A:  The extremely popular Wee Books for Wee Folks Series of books were published from 1904 to the early 1930's. There were three formats for the Peter Rabbit title. The first Altemus (and American edition) was published in 1904 as part of a two volume boxed set. The other book was The Foolish Fox.

Later in 1904 the second edition was published. This edition had two formats. A green cover was noted until about 1908 and then your book with the beige cover was published until 1917.

All of the Tale of Peter Rabbit Wee Books show the 1904 copyright date on the title page. this is regardless of the date the book was actually published.

Note the date at the base of the title page here.

Value $10-20

Vademecum Series

Q:  Would like to know it’s value. Song of Hiawatha

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. This long running publisher's series consisted only of reprints. Each year or so the titles in the series were changed as was the cover format of the books.

Your book is from 1902. There were more than 40 different appliqué paintings that appeared on the cover that year.

Since it is a reprint and the title is not widely collected, your book only has nominal value.

Boys and Girls Classics (Old)

Q:  Hey I found this Alice's Adventures in Wonderland book at my parents and was curious about the year, history and value of the book. Thanks!

A:  This book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. These books were published between 1899-1906. There were two formats. The one you have and another that has gold gilt decorative patterns within some of the rectangles. See here.

Dating these books is quite easily done. By using the ads in the back of the book, the publication date can be narrowed down to within a year or two. There is a chart on the series' webpage that outlines how to do this.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Tom Brown's School Days. Approx. 4.25 x 6.25 inches. No publishing date is noted. Do you know when it was published? The frontispiece shows a sketch of four boys, one is lying on his face. Thanks for any help.

A:  This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series.

During this year the books were sold within a labeled box. See here.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hi I found a copy of this book while going through out books. It was printed in 1892 and is in fairly good condition for its age. I was wondering if you could give me a approximate value. I am local so if need be I could bring the book to you. Attached are some photos of the book. Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1898 as part of the Beauxarts Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

In 1898 there were several cover variants. See here.

This title is not very collectible and the book is not in very good shape. It has little or no monetary value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I can't seem to find a copy with this cover. Lady of the Lake

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

The left half of the cover of this format has been seen in blue, pink or beige. The right half has one of sixteen different flowers.

These books originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  Hello I am trying to figure out when this book was published and if I should let my children read it? A Child's Garden of Verses

A:  This book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. This series was published between 1908 and 1926. All of the titles were previously printed in the Young Folk's Library Series. The only difference between the volumes of the two series is the covers.

There are a number of different covers associated with this series. They are linen swatch wrap around covers. This particular cover was used in the early and mid teens. It can be dated more precisely by using the ads in the back of the book.

These books were originally sold within a floral labeled box.

The entire linen swatch that this cover came from is shown here.