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:  I am trying to investigate information on a book, published by your company. The title of the book is Laddie and Miss Toosey's Mission. The actual book, in my possession, has no publication date, no author.

For reference, I have reviewed your online website. I am finding it contradictory, or perhaps it's my ignorance of book publishing. You provide the series in the Laddie Series, 1909-1909. However, there're varied references to the title, Laddie and Miss Toosey's Mission.

I read your reference/info on identifying the "series" publications. I did find the Vademecum Series, noted it as the largest of the book series. I also identified the particular book cover, used on my book (as you will note from the attached pictures) Green with a gold rose design, dated 1915.

It is not the generic light brown cover, you show in some of your referencing.

Am I close to finding out more particulars about "Laddie"?

At the rear of my book the only referral is under a listing of many books called: Altemus' Illustrated Vademecum Series. In the listings it shows as ..108 Laddie and Miss Toosey's Mission.

I have no book jacket. I have no ornamented box. In a rear book preface to other publications, in the series, it states "full cloth" and priced at forty cents.

A:  This title was published in numerous series and formats by Altemus. Your particular book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1915.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

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

It was published hundreds of times by numerous publishers from the mid 1800's on.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I recently acquired a book that I can't locate anywhere. It is WEIRD TALES, 1899. What I am finding is that every copy I've seen and every other frontispiece illustration used in this printing does not match the one I have. I've seen other sellers date this at 1895, when I think it is actually 1899.

The copyright page says 1895, but the illustration says 1899. The illustration is a ghastly color version of the ape cutting a woman's head off. I have not seen this in color anywhere else but in the book I have.

Can you tell me about it and it's possible value?

I am a new collector and after perusing the Altemus website, I am a big fan. All of your books are beautiful!

A:  Your book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1899. This cover format was published in a number of different colors (some examples are shown here) and sold within a labeled box.

All of the books in this series are reprints. Therefore the value of these titles is somewhat limited. On the other hand, there are Poe completists out there who want every Poe format. One of them might feel this book is worth a bit. Hard to say.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you please advise when this little book was published? The Song of Hiawatha. Thank you so much. I found one similar to the cover but was about Carolina.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. The titles in this series are all reprints.

This volume was published in 1902.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Here is a picture of my mothers book - A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Could you please tell us a little about it.

A:  This book was published as part of the Vademecum Series in 1900 and is a reprint.

It originally came within a labeled box.

The cover has been seen in multiple different colors.

It has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I wonder when was this book of "Adventures of a Brownie" published? It belonged to my foster mother who was born in 1894. I looked at many sources without any luck. Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the publisher’s Vademecum Series and was printed in 1907. It is a reprint as are all of the titles in this series. The appliqué on the front cover is one of more than 40 possible pictures, many of which could be combined to make larger pictures. See: http://henryaltemus.com/vademecum.htm

This format originally came within a labeled box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I was researching an Altemus book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin) on this site, and believe it may be a listed (38 in the first series listed) example, but without a picture. As you can see, the cover is in poor condition, but the pages are all there, with the portrait (frontispiece) being the only detached page. Am I correct to conclude that this is a pre-1897 example? How rare is it? Can you give me any indication of value?

A:  Unfortunately you misidentified your book. It is actually part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1915.

It is pictured here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm. It originally came within a labeled box. See here.

It is a reprint. In great shape it might be worth a couple of dollars. In this condition it has no monetary value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  What can you tell me about the attached book (Emerson's Essays) – date of publication, series, value, etc. Thanks very much.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.

It it a reprint and was originally sold within a labeled box.

Because it is a print of a not very collectible title, it has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hi I have the book Line Upon Line, it appears to be very old. It has a copyright stamp of 1897 by Henry Altemus. Just wondering if you could tell me if it's worth anything? Or maybe you could direct me to someone that may know about this book.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1900.

It originally was sold within a labeled box. It is a reprint.

This book is worth maybe a couple of dollars.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have this Black Beauty book it has written inside by the owner the date August 7, '05. And I'm 100% sure it's not 2005 as the book has been in my family as long as I can remember and I'm 80. After looking through your identifications I do not find the exact cover. There is no published date inside and the last pages are listings of publications. I think I'm safe in assuming the book has no monetary value as it appears that many and varied books were printed for all titles. But am curious as to its published date. It's a cute little book.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and is a reprint as are all of the Vademecum Series’ titles. It was published in 1905-1906. Four different flower patterns have been noted as appliqués’. This year’s books have been seen with various colors and originally came boxed. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I've been carrying this book around for years. Was wondering if was a collector item. House of the Seven Gables

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912. It is a reprint (as are all of the titles in this series) of a not very desirable title and thus has only nominal value.

It was originally released within a label box. An example is shown here.