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 looked for this book (Reveries of a Bachelor) many times on many sites.... Would you let me know what year this book was written?

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900.

During this year the left side of the cover is the same on all of the books while the right side has been seen with more than 25 different decorative patterns.

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

All of the books of this series are reprints and have minimal value except for a few widely collected titles.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi there! I am having a difficult time finding this book anywhere but in my collection. Any thoughts? it is copyright 1899.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899.

It originally came within a labeled box. This book is a reprint.

You can see on the website that in 1899 the books of this series all had the same pattern on the left side of the cover whereas the right has any one of a number of different decorative designs.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello Altemus Publishing,

Can you tell me about this book I have, "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin." Copyright 1895 Henry Altemus.

The last page has the signature I included in the images.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899-1900. It originally came with a labeled box.

During these years the books of this series had a stereotypical decoration on the left side of the cover. On the right side of the cover I have seen 27 different patterns (including your book's). All of them are shown here on the website.

Your book is a reprint and only has nominal value even in the best shape.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Thank you so much for your time in reading my email and looking at what I have.

I have attached photos of Sheldon's "In His Steps" published by the Henry Altemus Company. I've only come across one other book with this front cover online, and there was no value placed on it.

This particular book belongs to a very dear friend of mine who lent it to me so that I could read it. It is a very good read! I wanted to return it to him with some background information on the value. I've seen prices of the same title but different publishers range from $3 to over $400. Any information you might be able to give me would be greatly appreciated.

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

During this year all of the books in this series had the same lady on the left side of the cover and any one of sixteen different flowers on the right half.

This book originally came within a labeled box.

Most of these reprints have very little value unless the title is a special one. So it is unlikely you would get more than a few dollars for your book.

Generally the prices you see online are not overly helpful. The first editions always sell for a lot but after that people are just trying to get what they can of the reprints.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me something about this Treasure Island book I have:

Is it from the Vademecum series (I think it is)? It is 6.5” x 4.5”. Is it really from 1899? Is it common, and of nominal value as I suspect?

I have attached some pictures of the book.

A:  This book is from the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. Originally it was published a labeled box.

Although the book itself is not common, it is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I've acquired a small book of Endymion, and Other Poems and am lookng for information on it. I've attached a file with a few identifying pictures. There is what looks to be a hand drawn print of John Keats and underneath it is printed "Copyright 1899, by Henry Altemus" In reading your website on how to identify pre or post 1900, I didn't see an explanaition for what I have...

John Keats
ENDYMION And Other Poems
ALL OF THIS IS PRINTED IN RED WITH GREEN SCROLLWORK AROUND AND THROUGH IT.

Philadelphia
Henry Altemus

There are two title pages, the one pictured in the attachment and the one described above.

I'm hoping you can tell me a little more about this small treasure of beautiful poems. Any and all information you can provide is greatly appreciated.

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

In these years the books of this series, all of which are reprints, had the picture of the lady on the left of the cover and any one of sixteen different flower pictures on the right half of the cover. Your book has the lilacs.

This book originally came within a labeled box.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have come across a small book published by your company and would like to know more about it. The book is the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. It measures approximately 4 1/4" x 6 1/4". It is bound in a cream colored leather on the back and spine and a faded burgundy leather on the right half of the cover with an embossed iris in the leather and on the left side of the cover the title and an iris in cream colored leather. There is no date inside. I am curious as to the publication date and its worth.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1905-1906. It originally came within a labeled box. See ../series/series143.htm.

In this condition it has no 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

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi there, Another copy I couldn’t identify (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam). Pls help.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. As with all of the books in this series, it is a reprint. It was published in 1905-1906 and originally came within a labeled box. I am including a picture of what the box looks like. See ../series/series143.htm for more information.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I have a book (Line Upon Line) published by Altemus that I would like to sell. It was left in an apartment unit I've been cleaning by the previous tenant who just turned 101 years old. Can you help me find the value? I'm attaching photos, as well.

Thanks very much for any help you can provide.

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

This format has been seen with four different paste-ons (appliqués). Each has a different flower pictured. The other cover formats and a boxed book are shown here for completeness.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.