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 Series

Q:  Hello, I have this copy of Little Black Sambo that I am trying to date. I am hoping you can help me. I've read your very thorough post, but as you can see my copy is different than the two samples you've shown on your site. I'd so appreciate any insight you can offer. Many thanks in advance.

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

Altemus first published this title in 1918. The copy without the dust jacket on the webpage was published between 1918 and 1920. The yellow cover lettering was noted in those years. Your copy was published between 1921 and 1934.

In order to date your book more precisely you need to look at the ads in the back of the book and at the endpapers. Dates for the endpapers are given here: http://www.henryaltemus.com/wee_books/index.htm.

If you need further help, let me know.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Good afternoon,
I have this books and I was wondering if it is worth anything?
The Little Puppy That Wanted to Know Too Much

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

Generally these books are desirable if they have dust jackets or are certain titles (Alice in Wonderland, Peter Rabbit, Little Black Sambo).

Since your book is not a very collectible one and has no dust jacket, it has little monetary value.

The dust jacket is shown here.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Attached are photos of a Wee Book that I'm interested in selling - inside cover is blue in case it doesn't come through on the photo.
Can you give me some information. Alice Through the Looking Glass

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

The third format (this book) with the appliqué picture on the front cover includes all of the titles in the series. The dust jacket matched the front cover of the book. (shown here)

There were two Alice books. This one and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Both were published in 1926. The blue endpapers were noted between 1923 and 1926.

These are very collectible books and with a dust jacket could sell for as much as $100. Without, $10-50 is not unreasonable.

This book is much scarcer that the Young People's Library formats of the same title which are frequently listed for more than $100. (Although they seldom sell for more than a fraction of the listing price).

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I read your information on the Internet about these books and am sending you these pictures to see if you can tell me their approximate value. All three books have the blue endpapers. The Foolish Fox, Mother Goose Nursery Tales, The Robber Kitten

A:  This series of little (5.5' x 4.5") books was published in three formats. The third format (pictured here) which has an appliqué picture placed on a stereotypical line drawn illustrated cover had 37 titles. The dust jackets matched the front covers.

The endpapers can be used to date the book. Blue endpapers were found in volumes published between 1923 and 1926. See sample picture here.

This format was published between 1917 and 1931. http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series186.htm
The series first two formats were published between 1904-1917. ../series/series185.htm

The value of the books is dictated by the particular title, condition, presence of a dust jacket, etc. These three titles are not especially collectible and thus have limited value.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  Hi there, I have one book and I don't know much about it, but it is old and I cannot find the year edition. It has a dedicated to Billie in the first page and dated 1921. I send you some pictures, hope you can help me. The Story of Little Black Sambo

A:  You have an excellent book. It is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series.

This is the first Altemus edition of this title. Between 1917 and 1921 the titles of this series had either red or yellow lettering. Subsequently the lettering was black/grey or green.

This title is very collectible and this early edition is a very special book.

All of the books in this series had dust jackets. The jacket for this title is shown here.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I have recently recvd a book (Mother Goose Nursery Tales) in a box lot at an auction that I can find no information about, so I thought I would write you and see if you could help me at all. I have enclosed a couple pictures as well. There is no address in the back, besides Philadelphia, and the book is in rough condition, but absolutely beautiful.

Thanks, Brittany

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. See ../series/series186.htm

It was published between 1917 and the early 1930's. You can date your book more exactly by looking at the dating instructions revealed here: ../wee_books/index.htm

Generally the endpapers and the back ads which list other books in tho series give all the information you will need.

Originally your book came with a matching dust jacket.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  I recently sent you one email regarding some Wee Books, my great aunt has come across yet more so I will include them in this email. I truly appreciate any assistance you can offer.

Thank you.

How Peter Rabbit Went To Sea, Looks like: Series 186 7a

A:  Before the Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series (../series/series189.htm) began in 1918, the first four Peter Rabbit books were part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. (../series/series186.htm) The only way to be certain which series these early books belonged to is by the heading at the top of the title page which says either Wee Books for Wee Folks Series or the Wee Folks Peter Rabbit Series. Your book has the earlier series name.

Between 1917 and 1921 the lettering on this book was yellow as opposed to the later black/grey script.

These early Peter Rabbits are less common than the ones with the darker lettering. An example of the later book is shown for interest.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  I have this book and was trying to find out information on it and to see what it's value might be. I tried looking it up on your site and really did not find much info on it so anything you can assist me with I would appreciate it. I am attaching the front cover picture as well as another from inside. It has copyright, 1920 by Howard E. Altemus on one of the pages.

thanks for any information you can give me.

A:  Your book is part of Series #186 Wee Books for Wee Folks. (../series/series186.htm)

This title was part of this series only in 1920. Thereafter it was part of Series #187-Wee Folks Bible Stories Series.(../series/series187.htm)

Yellow lettering was seen on the Wee Books between 1918-1920.

Wee Books for Wee Folks Series

Q:  I am trying to find info on this book. There is no date. It has 26 illustrations with a coverslip (color)?

A:  Your book was first published in 1918. Your copy however is a later one. The 1918-1920 copies of this book had yellow lettering.

You can date your copy with the information here:

Wee Books

Series 186

It is neither rare nor valuable.

Wee Books for Wee Folks

Q:  I have been trying to find info out about this book (The Little Puppy That Wanted to Know Too Much) and I can't find it anywhere.

A:  Your book is part of the Wee Books for Wee Folks Series. It was originally copyrighted 1920 and reprinted for a number of years thereafter.

In poor condition it has little value.