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:  I have a question about this book that I found in my mother’s collection: it’s an “Illustrated Vademecum Series” reprint of Tennyson’s In Memoriam. I read from other pages on your site that in this series, books were published essentially every year, and that the covers varied yearly. Upon examining your tables, the closest I could come to an accurate date for my book was the 1899-1926 range. I saw another user’s book, however, that was not “In Memoriam,” but that had a very similar cover design to mine; his was from 1901-2. So my question is this: is my book, too, from this same year? If not, when is it from? From your information about how the publisher was cited, my book’s “Henry Altemus Company” tells me that it is from after 1900, I believe.

A:  Actually your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. It is a reprint and originally came with a labeled box.

The 1903 books had a stereotyped pedestal picture on the left side of the cover. This left cover design has been seen in blue, pink and beige. Some 1903 books were published with the same pedestal on the left but they were in ooze calf.

The cloth books have one of sixteen different flowers on the right of the cover.

A lot of Altemus books which are not Vademecum books have the Vademecum Series listed in the ads in the back of the book.

This particular book in this format is not that common but scarcity and value do not necessarily go hand in hand. Because it is not a very collectible book, it has very limited value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  What can you tell me about this book please (Black Beauty)? The spine shows it was published by Altemus but I can find no publishing date, etc in it. Thank you in advance.

A:  Many of Altemus' publisher's series had various types and styles of artwork on the front covers. (See section on Publisher's Series). In 1903-1904 one of the formats of the Petit Trianon Series was half vellum on the left. The right half either had floral pictures or there was an art nouveau illustration of a young lady in various poses. At this time two different illustrations have been seen that were initially posters done by Alphonse Mucha.

Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) was a well known Czech artist who excelled in the art nouveau arena with works designed for magazine covers, books, posters etc. It is most likely that Altemus appropriated these works for some of their covers without paying royalties. Mucha was not given credit within the books where his work appeared on the covers.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi there, I have acquired a book (Kidnapped) and am unable to find out about it. Please if you would be so kind as to tell me what you know of this book date and such. It has no publishing date in it. Thank You so very much for your time.

A:  Your book was published in 1907 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

This title is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I picked this up today and hoped to find out more about it. I have to tell you how much I enjoyed all of the hard work you've put into this site! I love books and I look forward to reading this one.

It is Idylls of the King by Tennyson. I paid $1 for it! It may be worth twice that! Thank you for your information. I've bookmarked your site.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1905-1906. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

The paste on (appliqué) on the front cover had the picture of one of four flowers. (yellow-daffodil, red-carnation, pink-rose, purple-iris)

All of the books in this series are reprints and have limited value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I recently came across this book (Paradise Lost) and Paradise Regained and was trying to double check my research and find out the dates on them. Thank you for any assistance.

A:  Your book was published in 1908-1909 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint and originally came in a labeled box.

Because it is a very common title, a reprint without an original has little, if any, value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I see that you published In His Steps in 1899. This is my treasure. It is a hard bound. I don't see it listed on your website. Was it printed in sb first, possibly elsewhere?

Others on Ebay say the firt pub date is 1897. Is mine a first Edition? If not how do I list it? What category is it in? Do you know it's value? If not please give me guidance on where to go.

A:  It was published in 1899-1900 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. Your book is not a first edition. You can find a picture on the series page.

It has only nominal value and will be hard to sell at any price (especially in this condition).

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I have an old Evangeline book and have no idea when it was published, I have searched your site and have not found it. I have attached some pictures. If you could let me know that would be great.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. It is a reprint and originally came in a labeled box.

In this shape it has no collector value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi, Someone gave me this book (Child's Garden of Verses) a few years back. I would just like to know a little more about it. It doesn't have a date or anything to that effect nor can I find any other that look like it. Thanks.

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

During this year the left side of the cover was either beige or pink. The right side had a picture of one of sixteen flowers. Yours is a violet. This reprint originally came in a labeled box.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi I was hoping you could give me some info about this book such as publishing date and value and any other info you may know about said book…

Thank you
Autocrat of the breakfast table

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

During this year the right half of the cover had one of sixteen flowers. Your book has Lilacs (2). The left half of the cover was either beige (your book), blue or pink. The latter two colors are quite uncommon. The book originally came in a labeled box.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I am hoping you can help me date and get a possible value on this book. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell. No date. I have included a photo of cover and inside with publisher name.
Thank you for any help you can give me.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904.

Each year the books of this series had a different cover. So identifying the year of publication can be done accurately.

During 1903-1904 the Petit Trianon Series books had covers that had a stereotyped pedestal decoration on the left side of the cover. This decoration came in pink, blue, and beige. On the right half of the cover was one of sixteen flower pictures.

Although there are many Black Beauty collectors, there is nothing that makes this particular copy stand out. It is a reprint without great illustrations. So to get more than a few dollars will depend on finding that one collector who has to have this format.