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:  Hi attached are three photo's of a set of two books that I have. I tried to find them on your website but was unsuccessful. Can you help? They appear to be green leather with possible gold leaf or gilting in the design. There is no publish date inside the books. Sorry about the quality, it was a phone.

A:  The book cover you sent is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906. It originally came in a labeled box.

As you can see from the site, this year's books were published with a number of different cover colors and with one of four flower pictures.

All of the books in this series are reprints and few have more than nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Found this book at a thrift store, I can’t find any date. Do you have any information about it? Mulvaney Stories

A:  Your book was published between 1909 and 1912. It originally came within a labeled box. It is part of the Vademecum Series.

This book is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Please inform me re: date of publishing and any other interesting particulars. Thank you. The Courtship of Miles Standish

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1915. Originally this book came within a labeled box. It is a reprint as are all of the books in this series. It has only nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Attached is a photo of one of the 2 books of Emerson’s Essays that I own. I searched around on your website a little and couldn’t find any other volumes in this style. Can you tell me an approximate age and value and any advice on where to offer these for sale. I’m not sure just listing on Ebay is the best.

These volumes were passed down in our family and are truly beautiful.

A:  Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1897. It originally came in a labeled box.

Regardless of where you try to sell it, this book only has nominal value.

Platt and Munk Altemus reprint

Q:  I can't find any info on this little green book can u help me. Thanks. Little Black Sambo and the Tiger Kitten

A:  Your book is a late reprint of an original publication of the Henry Altemus Company. It originally came with a dust jacket. Publication date was the late 1930's.

For more see: Platt and Munk

Marqueterie Series

Q:  Hi could you give me any info on this book (Weird Tales). Copyright 1895 by Henry Altemus Thank you.

A:  Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Marqueterie Series.

It is a reprint and has minimal value.

Of note is that occasionally a Poe collector will pay a bit more for Poe reprints. Finding that buyer can be difficult however.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hi, I am looking for a value for this book. It was passed down by my grandmother but I don’t know anything about it except what I learned on your page:

Beauxarts Series (earlier numbering)
Publish: 1897-1898
Series:47
Volume 109 (Song of Hiawatha)
Format 2

A:  Books from the various Altemus publisher's series are reprints and unless they are titles of special interest to collectors, have no significant value. Frequently sellers confuse age/scarcity with value.
These books are quite common and generally are very hard to sell.

For information about this series see Beauxarts Series.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hi, I tried to send these pics through my work email. I am trying to send through my personal email this time. I hope you get them. The Prince of the House of David

A:  This book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1897. It originally came within a labeled box. During this year the books of this series were published in a number of different colors. Your book is a reprint and has nominal (if any) value.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I am trying to figure out the publishing date of this book (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland). I have read your website, but things do not match up because this was given to my aunt’s mom in 1900. I have included the front cover pic as well as publisher page but it oddly shows no date. I have never seen a book without a date?
Thanks for any info.
Appreciate it very much.

A:  Most books of this era have no date.

It is part of Series 58 Boys and Girls Series. This series published books between 1899 and 1906. Because your book's title page says Henry Altemus Company and since Altemus incorporated in 1900, we know that it was published in 1900 or later. The inscription from Xmas 1900 tells us it was published no later than that date. Thus a 1900 publication is presumed.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I see that this book (The Cricket on the Hearth) is a reprint. The book says copyright 1899 but the web site says 1901. I found this book in an antique shop and picked it up for 12.00. The pages seem to be loose and one of the pages were taped back in. I was wondering if you might be able to tell me what the value of this book is. Thank you for your time.

A:  This book is part of Series 180 Vademecum Series. It was published in 1901. As you noted, it is a reprint and as such it has very little value. Altemus published this title in hundreds of formats and since the title is not a "special" one, there is very little demand for it.

I think you would be lucky to sell it for more than a couple of dollars.