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.

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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I recently purchased a book named The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley that was published by Henry Altemus Company. I would really appreciate your help in identifying the date in which this book was published. Enclosed is a picture of the cover of the book.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. During this year the titles which are all reprints had the pedestal on the left half of the front cover (beige, pink or blue) and one of 16 flowers on the left. It was originally sold within a labeled box. See here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello. I have an undated copy of Representative Men by Emerson, published by "Henry Altemus Company", Philadelphia. From cover images on your web page, the cover design resembles 1901 Petit Trianon #14. The Vademecum Series list in the back includes 1--244, in alphabetical order. Is 1901 the likely year of publication?

A:  You are correct. This is the the 1901-1902 cover for a book in the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

The right half of the front cover had one of 16 flowers or one of two Alphonse Mucha pictures. The left side had a lady hiding up the title. It was seen in beige, blue or pink. The blue cover is the most uncommon. Examples are shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  While cleaning out my 100 year old great grandmother's basement, I located a Romeo & Juliet book that belonged to her mother. It appears to be a fairly early addition, but I am hoping you can offer further insight, including year published, & what you believe the value to be. Thank you for your time.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900. All the volumes in this series are reprints. This book originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

This basic format has a stereotyped pattern on the left side of the cover and one of numerous decorations, floral and otherwise on the right half. Some examples are shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  what is this book? Twice Told Tales

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/images/S143_1899_p17.jpg

All the of the titles in this series are reprints.

In 1899 these books came boxed. There is only one format but it was published with numerous variant covers. The left half of the front cover is unchanged but the right half has been seen with many different decorative patterns. A few examples are shown here.

Except for very collectible titles, none of the books in this series have more than nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Just curious about value of this small book ( about 4.5” x 6.5” ). Inherited from Aunt and believe date post 1900. Evangeline

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

All of the books in this series are reprints.

There were four different styles printed during these two years. The pedestal has been seen in three colors (beige-most common, blue and pink) and as an ooze calf book. A picture of any one of sixteen flowers are possible for the right half of the book covers.

It is a reprint and has nominal value (a couple of dollars).

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I purchased this book recently because of the beautiful cover and my love of Victorian literature. Could you tell me the publication date? Sesame and Lilies

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1906.

This format has been seen with four different flowers on the left side of the cover. It also originally came within a labeled box. See here for examples.

All the titles in this series are reprints.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I bought "Poe's Poems" in an antique store in Guthrie, Oklahoma for $6. I've searched the Internet for it and I cannot find it anywhere; whenever coming across your website, I entered the title and it said that nothing of the such was in the data base. There are also a total of 32 pages at the end of the book that lists others that were published by the Henry Altemus Company. In the front cover, as pictured, December 25th, 1910 has been written in - hopefully that gives insight into the general time it was published. If there's a year and also probably a value on the book, I would love to know that information.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1908-1909. As with all the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

This format originally came within a labeled box. See here.

You paid fair value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I am trying to find out the possible value range of an antique book that once belonged to my grandmother, entitled Poe's Poems. I believe it is a first edition, and strangely, it has no publication date printed within it anywhere. It does appear at the back of the book under the list of "Publications of Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia" as number "...159 Poe's Poems" under the heading "Altemus' New Illustrated Vademecum Series." I am attaching multiple photos of the book...sorry that my phone's camera is not very good.

I would appreciate any info. you can provide.

A:  Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. Originally it was sold within a labeled box.

The cover is interesting because of the illustration on the right which was drawn by Alphonse Mucha, a well known Czech artist. It is called "Poetry".

Several Altemus formats feature Mucha drawings.

Ordinarily it might be worth a few dollars, but in this shape it has no monetary value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Please any info would be great. I got book (Lucile) from my grandmother and i know nothing about it but your site was helpful thank you. i know you prolly don't appraise books but if you could just please give me a ball park idea i would hate to give something away for nothing. Thank you for your time.

A:  Hello, Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint.

In this format the left half of the book front cover has a stereotyped pattern whereas the right half either has one of sixteen flower patterns or one of two illustrations done by Alphonse Mucha. Your book has a Mucha illustration.

You can read a bit about this variant here: ../about/updates112605.htm from a November 26, 2005 post.

Although your book is in nice shape, it has minimal value. Certainly less than $20.

The other Mucha cover is shown here.