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.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Dear Altemus book expert,
I recently acquired this very old and also very tattered version of Peter Rabbit. I am almost afraid to touch this book. I am not a collector although, I might have just become one. This book has made me quite confused and I have a couple questions I was hoping you could answer since you were the publisher. Can you please guide me as to what exactly I should do with this book to preserve it, what I should do if I keep it, and how do I go about selling this book to somebody and also in finding its value?

A:  The Tale of Peter Rabbit appeared initially in the six book Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

Altemus published Peter Rabbit in three different formats. The first format which is the rarest was published only in 1904. It is pictured here. It has line drawn pictures on the end papers. Originally it was sold boxed with the Foolish Fox book. It is 5.5 x 4.25.

Your book is the first American edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It is certainly the rarest of the Altemus Peter Rabbit books and generally the most valuable. Unfortunately, it probably would cost more to repair this book than it is worth. For more information see ../peter_rabbit/peterrabbit.htm

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I have a very clean copy of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. These were my father's from his childhood. I believe that they are first or second edition and first format. I would be interested to know more, or if they are rare etc.

A:  Your book is the second edition-first format Altemus Peter Rabbit. It was published sometime between late 1904 to probably around 1908.

Originally it came in a brown uncoated dust jacket. It is a rather easy book to find.

The first American edition Tale of Peter Rabbit was published earlier in 1904.

For more information see ../peter_rabbit/peterrabbit.htm

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I have what I believe is a first edition (pirated) copy of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. It looks exactly like the one on your website. I am trying to find out if there is any value to it.

Here is what it looks like:

A:  This is a great book. It is the first American edition of Peter Rabbit.

You can find out more here: ../peter_rabbit/peterrabbit.htm

Frequently other Altemus editions are touted as the first but this is really it.

It was published early in 1904. Later in 1904 Altemus published its second Tale of Peter Rabbit edition. It is the green book below. In 1917 the most commonly seen Altemus Peter Rabbit was published. It is the one with the paste-on picture. This edition was printed into the 1930's.

Having said that, it is always hard to predict prices. I think you should be able to get $50-100 for it.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  My husband found this book while cleaning. thought it was interesting. tried finding this book, I could only find the peter rabbit book that looks like this.
I did check other web sites and ebay, but nothing on this cover!! I took pictures of the cover, spine, inside cover, second page, title page, copy right page and back cover hope I didn’t take to many pictures, sorry if I did!! was curious.

A:  Your book is the Altemus first edition of Nursery Tales. It was published in 1904. Originally it came boxed.

For more information about your book see ../series/series185.htm and ../wee_books/index.htm.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  Hi, I was wondering if you could give me any information on the book THE FOOLISH FOX, 1904. I haven't been able to find any information about this book with the green cover.

A:  Your book is a second format book in the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. It was published between 1904 and 1911. It originally came with a dust jacket which matched the cover.
See ../wee_books/index.htm and ../series/series185.htm.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  hello, i was on your website and because i was researching a book that i have. My aunt's mother in law was a school teacher back in the early 1900s and she had a Peter Rabbit book from back when she was a teacher. I'll send you a picture of it, any help figuring out what edition it is would be great!

A:  Take a look here: ../peter_rabbit/peterrabbit.htm

You can see your book pictured as a Second Edition (second format). The earlier second edition book has the same picture on the cover but is green. This book was first published between 1908 and 1912. It was reprinted until 1917 when the third Altemus edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Hi! Can you please tell me when this edition of The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published?

A:  Your book can be found here: Peter Rabbit

It was published between 1908-1917. It is the second edition of the second format of the Tale of Peter Rabbit title published by Altemus.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I am wondering if you might be able to give me the approximate value of this book? The Night Before Christmas. Copyright is 1918 and it has a blank page on the inside cover indicating an early version.

A:  It is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.
This book is the earlier of the two formats of this title. It was published between 1918 and 1921. After that the red lettering was changed to black. Originally this volume came with a dust jacket.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  Hi there, I've recently come into possession of a copy of The Robber Kitten. I was wondering if you could perhaps date this publication for me, or at least help me narrow down the publication period for me. I don't really expect it will be worth all that much, simply because the dust jacket is so ratty, but I just kind of wanted to do some further research into the book for myself. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read my message.

A:  Your book is from Format 3 of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. Based on the listing of titles on the back of the jacket it is 1920 book.

Henry Altemus Company - Wee Books for Wee Folks (third format) 186

Value is hard to say. The dust jacket is in tough shape- maybe $20 or so.

Wee Books for Wee Folks (Platt and Munk reprints)

Q:  I am searching for a bit more information on books that were my Mother's when she was a child. I tried searching on Ebay and Biblio, but could only find a few books from varying series.

What I have:
All four Wee Books from Set No. 1. (Tale of Peter Rabbit, Peter Rabbit Went To Sea, Peter Rabbit at the Farm, Peter Rabbit's Christmas)
Two books from Set No. 7.
Two books from Set No. 8.
Four books from Set No. or Series No. 126.
And, one book entitled, 'Peter Rabbit and the Little Girl'.

Each book is in excellent condition. In fact, I'm not sure they've ever been read or looked through.

A:  These books are reprints of the original Altemus Wee Books for Wee Folks volumes. Altemus published these little books in several series between 1904 and 1933. Platt and Munk reprinted a number of titles in beginning in 1935. The reprints and the Altemus originals came with dust jackets. The reprints also came in labeled boxes. A Platt and Munk box is shown here.

For more information see: http://henryaltemus.com/reprints/platt.html