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:  How valuable is my book? Plain Tales From the Hills

A:  This book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. This publisher's Series consisted of reprints only. During this publication year the books were printed with various color covers. Some examples are shown here. Originally these volumes are boxed.

This title is not a very collectible one and therefore has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I received this very old book from a distant relative, it belonged to her Mother, I do believe this book is at least 100 years old. The lady that gave it to me is now 84, so I know it is old. The inside cover says Evangeline a Tale of Acadie and other Poems by Henry W Longfellow, Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia, the binding is loose, but all the pages are present., easy to read. Any idea on a date or value, it if is of value I may just sell it and give her the money, she could use it.

A:  This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series. It is a reprint. Originally it was published within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

It has no value.

Belles-Lettres Series

Q:  This is one of thousands of books my son "inherited" when he purchased a neighbor's home after he passed. My researching brought me to your website....we are trying to get an idea of the value of some of these so when we bring in a dealer, or whoever, we have some idea of the value. You probably already know this is from the Belles-Lettres series #50. Conversation by Thomas De Quincey, approx 5"x7", silver on white, copyright 1896, 47 numbered pages. In great shape with a few marks on the back....maybe a stain or ?. We would appreciate any info you can give us as to a value. We are just getting started on this room full of books so there may be others of this series. Any suggestions as to good searching sites. We check Ebay but there's such a range of prices....and I read your piece about the pricing and all it takes into account.

A:  You have identified this book correctly. The 31 small books in this series were published in 1896-1897 with a number of different covers. See: Belles-Lettres Series

Even though your book is in nice shape, there is very little demand for the book in this series. It will be difficult to get more than a few dollars in an auction or direct sale.

In His Name Series

Q:  I have a book called, The Creation Story by William E. Gladstone. There is a stamp on the inside front cover of the shop that sold it: JONES & WATSON - Jewelers, Opticians, Magazines, Books - KIRBYVILLE, TEXAS. I have attached a picture of the cover and the copyright page. Can I rely on this as the proper copyright - 1896 - or is there another date I should use?

A:  This book was published as part of the In His Name Series in the 1904-1907 time frame.

This is a Format 3 book. These books came with a dust jacket that lists the titles of the series on the jacket front. There were four different covers-each with a different flower and rectangular idyllic picture. See here.

These titles are hard to sell at any price.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Worth of 1895 copy of Oliver Wendel Holmes Poems. Good condition. (Disregard stamp.) Thanks.

A:  This book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series. It is a reprint of a not very collectible title and thus has only nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello, I was wondering if you could provide me with more info on this copy of Treasure Island. Thank you for your time.

A:  Your book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series.

The 1897 books in this series were published with a number of different color covers. See here.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I've found this book (J. Cole) & not finding it on your site. I would love to have more information on it, at least a date. I'd be grateful for any information you can give though.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900. It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

In 1900 his format was published in a number of different color covers. Some are shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  This book has no copyright page. Can you tell me the date of my book? The Song of Hiawatha

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. This particular cover was published in 1903-1904. During these two years the left half of the cover pictured a pedestal with the title above it. On the right half of the cover was one of sixteen different flowers.

The titles in this series are all reprints and came within a labeled box originally (see here).

Vademecum Series

Q:  When was this book published?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. This cover format was published in 1897.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. In 1897 the cover had a stereotypical design but the volumes were published in numerous different colors. Some are shown here.

Favorite Series

Q:  Dear Sirs; Looking to your website in identification of an Altemus book I recently uncovered in an attic box at an estate sale a copy of an Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It doesn't quite match the covers I've seen before for any of the formats of the young people's library formats. The copyright gives 1896 and it displays the binding style of format 1 but the cover I have not seen before. Book is in excellent shape, a solid piece. Found in the manner it was and my familiarity as a collector I cannot believe it is a reproduction or other. Can you please identify?

A:  Your book is part of the Favorite Series. It is a Format 1 style and was published in 1900-1901.

The text of the book is identical to the Young People's Library text and why Altemus published this (and many other) titles in multiple series simultaneously is unclear.

The books of this series all came with dust jackets initially.

Although not rare, the volumes of this series are much less commonly found than those in the Young People's Library.