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.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  We have a very old small book (The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam) appearing to be published by your firm. A search found some information about the title as part of the Petit Trianon Series 143. But the cover does not match any of those in that series website. Here and in 2 following emails are photos of cover and title page and opposite page art. The cover feels like a soft suede.

Can you help with a year of publication please? (I did find a Q & A about possible value of the Petite version and it was indicated that the value was nominal.)

A:  Your book is part of the Poems We Love Series. See ../series/series146.htm

It was published between 1913 and 1915 and originally came in a labeled box.

Bo-Peep Series

Q:  Hello, I purchased a small hardcover book at an Estate Sale here in Sun City Center, Fl and it is a small hard cover book entitled WHERE ARE YOU GOING MY PRETTY MAID? It is a series of short stories copyright date 1905 by HENRY ALTEMUS. Can you please give me the history on this book?

A:  This book was published in 1905 and is part of the eight volume Bo-Peep Series. I am including a picture of the rather plain uncoated brown paper dust jacket that this book came with.

For more information see ../series/series55.htm.

Vademecum Series

Q:  From you website this book was published in 1896. Its in great condition, how much do you think its worth. It's Scarlet Letter Second Edition and it does have the preface.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896. See ../series/series179.htm

Altemus published this title in numerous formats. When it did, it reprinted the entire book including the early dated preface. Thus, almost every edition of this title that Altemus reprinted has the “second edition” preface from the original 1850?s book. It is actually not the second edition but rather it is a reprint of the second edition. It only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I haven't been able to find any information about this book (Evangeline and Other Poems) on your website. Can you tell me when it was published? Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1908-1909. All of the titles in this series are reprints. The books originally came within a labeled box. See: ../series/series143.htm

Slip in the Pocket Classics Series

Q:  I'm having a hard time locating information on this book (Othello). I was thinking about putting it on ebay, but I'm not sure what to price it since I can't find any details on it. Any help you can give would be welcomed. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of either the Slip-in-the-Pocket Classics Series or its direct 1908 predecessor- Classics Series. For the Classics Series see ../series/series69.htm See ../series/series166.htm for the Slip in the Pocket Series.

This book originally came with a dust jacket. Shown is a representative jacket. When this book sells, it is generally only for a few dollars.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I have two books that I would like to know what they are worth and what they are. I have sent pictures of both their covers and first page. The Pathway of Promise has a copyright of 1896 and says it is by the same author of The Throne of Grace. The Imitation of Christ says it is by Thomas A’Kempis, but does not list a copyright. I would really appreciate whatever you could tell me. Thank You

A:  The Altemus book is part of the Sanspareil Series and was published in 1898. It originally came with a dust jacket. This is a typical publisher's series. All of the its titles are reprints. ../series/series162.htm

I am including here a picture of a representative dust jacket. This book only has nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Came across this book (The Courtship of Miles Standish) when I was bring out the "Good Dishes" for Thanksgiving Day. Belonged to my husband's Great Great Great Aunt from Hampton NH. Looked on your site but did not see any thing that matched.

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1902. As with all of the books in this series, it is a reprint with relatively little value. It originally came within a labeled box. For more information see ../series/series48.htm.

Classics Series

Q:  Hi, we have "The Chimes" marked 31 on the binding. No dates. Searched your blog with no luck. Can you tell us anything about it? Thanks.

A:  Your book is part of the Classics Series. See ../series/series166.htm

It was published in the 1909-early teens era. In fair shape without the dust jacket it has little value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello I just picked up this Black Beauty book, it has no date inside, a little girl wrote her name and date 1888. The inside reads Henry Altemus Philadelphia.
Was hope you knew more about it. Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1897 as part of the Beauxarts Series. See ../series/series47.htm

It originally came within a labeled box. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

Non Series #7

Q:  Hello, I'm trying to find more information about my book (Hans Andersen's Fairy Tales). I believe it is the Altemus 1918 non-series publication. Would this be considered a first edition? Please correct me if I'm wrong and give me any more information that I may be missing. Thank you!

A:  It is the non series Altemus publication. Since all the stories have previously appeared in other books, I do not think it can be called a first edition. However, it probably can be called the "First Edition, thus". It originally came with a dust jacket. It is of a similar format to Grimm's Fairy Tales which was also published in 1918 See: ../images/NS_64.jpg