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.

Marqueterie Series

Q:  Is this book of any value (Autocrat of the Breakfast Table)? It is in relative good shape. do you know how many were published? thank you

A:  This series of 149 volumes was published in 1899. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series130.htm

All of its volumes are reprints and except for a few widely collected titles have little value.

Your book only has nominal value.

I do not know how many were published but it really does not matter. Rarity does not necessarily equate to value.

Marqueterie Series

Q:  I am trying to find out anything I can about this book the little lame prince by mulock copyright 1899 by henry altemus i have enclosed a photo any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated thanks john

A:  This is another publisher's series book. This time from Series #130. The Marqueterie Series. This series has 149 volumes- again all reprints. This series was published only in 1899. In addition to the Poe titles, the Lewis Carroll books -Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass are occasionally in demand. http://henryaltemus.com/series/series130.htm

Mother Goose Series

Q:  My grandmother left me several old books, one of them is Beauty and the Beast and other stories. Can you help provide me with confirmation of information about this book, possibly its value if there is any, and is it possibly a 1st edition. I’m considering selling it and need to verify what I have and what it may be worth if possible. Any help you can offer would be much appreciated

A:  You can determine the edition of your book by looking here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series131.htm

It is a second format book in the Mother Goose Series. The first format books have a colored left sided cover vellum. Compare the pictures. The first format book has red vellum on the left of the cover.

Your book is a reprint and without a dust jacket will be difficult to sell for more than a few dollars.

Mother Goose Series

Q:  Hello,
This book doesn’t appear in your database. I am hoping that you might be able to give me some information on it.
Thank you for your time.

A:  Actually this book is in the database.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series131.htm for more information.

It is Format 3 #4 on the page above. It originally came with a dust jacket which had the same picture on it as the cover of the book.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Mother Goose Series

Q:  HI.. found your site.. I have this book (Aladdin) from my dad's collection & could not find any information on ebay or other sites.. just curious what feedback you may have..

A:  Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series131.htm

It is part of the Mother Goose Series- Format 3. It is relatively common and originally came with a dust jacket. It generally does not sell for more than a few dollars.

Mother Goose Series

Q:  I have a copy of Jack and the Bean Stalk and Other Stories that is not dated. I inherited it from my mother. She told me that it had belonged to her grandmother which would date back to the 1800's. I've attached pictures in hopes that you can tell me what year it was published and if it is a 1st Edition.

A:  Your book was part of the Mother Goose Series (#131) that was published for the first time in 1905. This series had four formats of which yours is the second. The second format differs from the first in that the background of the left hand side of the front cover is in white rather than in a color. This format was printed for several years starting in 1906. These books all came jacketed.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's Works

Q:  I have Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter published Philadelphia Henry Altemus 1892. It is a small, hardcover book, appears to be red leather with a cameo of a woman on the front. Very good conditon. Can you give me an idea of value.

A:  This is a relatively common book despite its age. This book came in several different colors and originally had a dust jacket. It only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello,

We found this book while cleaning. It is in good shape. Is it valuable? Evangeline by Longfellow

Thank you for looking at this.

A:  Information about your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series141.htm

It is part of the Petit Trianon Series which is a series of reprints of fiction, essays, poetry, classics, etc. It was published in 1897.

During that year this series featured a book cover with a number of different floral patterns on the right of the cover but with a never changing dot pattern on the left.

This book originally came in a labeled box.

Unfortunately there is not very much collector interest in reprints of this title. It has only nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I cant seem to find information on the book "Rab and his Friends" with a Mucha painting likeness on the cover. I found it at a consignment shop for $5 but the cover's worn - inside pages are very clean.

Anyway, your site is only site I found with related info.... would someone know if they worth anything or should I just shelf it? a pic is attached.

A:  Nice book but unfortunately it has no real value. (less than $20)

It is part of the Petit Trianon Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm) and was published in 1901-1902.

For what it's worth it is one of six Mucha covers that Altemus "borrowed".

See http://henryaltemus.com/artists/artists-Mucha.htm

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi: I was wondering if you could give me any information on publishing date, etc of Volume l & volume ll of Longfellow's Poems. Here are pictures of the books.

A:  Your book was published in 1905-1906 as part of the Petit Trianon Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm).

It is a reprint as are all of the books from this series.

Without the original box this volume only has nominal value.