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.

Golden Treasury Series

Q:  I did not see this on your website.
copyright 1895

A:  Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series99.htm. The Golden Treasury Series was published between 1899 and 1901. There are two formats. Your book is from the first format and was published in 1899.

Golden Treasury Series

Q:  I found this (John Ploughman's Talk) in a box of books given to me recently. It's priceless to me, since Spurgeon is one of my favorite authors. In other words, I don't care so much about whether or not it has inherent value, but I would like to know a little about it. Best I can tell, it's from the Devotional Series? 1896? The copyright date inside is 1896. Couldn't find this cover (in particular) on the Devotional Series page, but is there anything else you can tell me about it?

A:  Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series99.htm

It is not part of the Devotional Series but rather part of the Golden Treasury Series.

Golden Treasury Series

Q:  Hi, I recently came across your site while trying to do some research on an old book I have. I would like to know when it was published or printed. I am attaching a picture of the front cover I hope it is helpful. I went through the pictures on the website for "Line Upon Line" but didn't see a cover that resembled mine. I appreciate your time and patience with helping me, and if you have any questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of Series #99- Golden Treasury Series

It can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series99.htm

1899-1900 publication date.

The Golden Treasury Series

Q:  I have included a photo of the front board of 'Brooks' Addresses'. I was able to find a similar cover on the site, but not exactly the same. I would very much appreciate your assessment.

A:  Your book is part of Series #99 The Golden Treasury Series. This series was published for several years beginning in 1899. Your book was part of the 1899 edition. I have seen it in green as well as red. This series has not been added to the website as of yet.

In His Name Series

Q:  Hi, Trying to do some research to determine the value of my book (Eternal Life). Just says Henry Altemus so I'm assuming it is pre 1900. "Copyright by Henry Altemus 1896". Am I correct in assuming this is also publication date? Thank you so much for your help. I was so delighted to find your site.

A:  Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series110.htm

Although the Altemus copyright of this book is pre-1900, it was published in the early 1900's. Note that it says Henry Altemus Company at the bottom of the title page. Altemus incorporated in 1900.

Unfortunately most of the titles from this series of reprints are not widely collected and when they sell, it is for just a few dollars.

In His Name Series

Q:  Hello, I inherited the attached book and after my dog ripped the first page I started to do some research on it (after putting him in the kennel of course)…but can’t find any info on it. There is no publication date except there is a date someone wrote (1908) by hand on the interior. When was this book published? Do you know anything about ‘Little Pillows’? It isn’t listed anywhere in the site. I assume it’s part of the reprint series?

A:  This book is part of the In His Name Series, Format 2. There are 16 possible flower picture. Yours is #10 Lily of the Valley. It was published in the 1903-1904 range. This book originally had a dust jacket.

In His Name Series

Q:  I received a lovely little Henry Altemus volume for Christmas called Evening Comfort, arranged by Elisabeth Robinson Scovil, copyright 1898. What can you tell me about this book? Thank You.

A:  Your book is part of the In His Name Series (Series # 110). The series was published between 1901-1912. The book pictured here is in Format 3- volume 28 out of 46. In order to determine the year of publication, the book's dust jacket is necessary. At the earliest it was published in 1903.

Juvenile Quartos Series

Q:  Hi, I was going through some of my grandmothers hand me downs and came across this book (The Story of Little Black Sambo). I have been searching the internet but cannot seem to locate this particular book.

Can you please provide me with some detail on it? Is it rare? With all the Black Sambo books I've found I cant imagine it would be but I am interested in some detail on this book and why I cant find it on the internet?

Thank you for your time.

A:  Altemus published this book in 1931 and later David Mckay did a reprint edition of this exact book. You can find this book on this website here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series113.htm.

It is quite uncommon because Altemus stopped publishing books in 1932 so your book was only in print for a short time. I trust your book is the oversized format at about 7 x 9.

Although it is not a first edition, it is still quite a nice book.

Kipling Series

Q:  I have a copy of Rudyard Kipling’s “Cupid’s Arrows.” It’s in great condition, and has a lovely Indian-looking design on the inside front and back covers.

The book is quite small 4 x 6 ½ inches. The cover is cloth, dark red with Indian designs in green… There is no date anywhere on the book.

Could you tell me how old it is. My guess is around the turn of the century, but the story was published in 1888, I believe..so it could be earlier.

A:  This book was part of the Kipling Series (Series #114). There were 21 Kipling reprints in this series which was published in 1899 and was reprinted until 1901. Your volume is #15 in the series. The 1899 books can be distinguished from the later books by seeing Henry Altemus not Henry Altemus Company at the bottom of the title page. They were originally jacketed.

La Belle Fleur Series

Q:  I have taken the liberty of attaching very bad photos of a book left to me by an Aunt. The book is titled “Drummond's Addresses” and seems to have a copyright date of 1891. Any information you could offer me on this book would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1901 as part of the La Belle Fleur Series.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series115.htm

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.