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.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello,
I recently purchased Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. It is a Henry Altemus publication, Images of the book's front cover, inside cover and some back pages are attached. However the title page is missing, so I do not know the publication date. Would you be able to help out with this missing info.

A:  Your book was published between 1899-1901 as part of the Beauxarts Series.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series48.htm.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Hello, Recently I went in my attic to clean up and I came upon this old book titled "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland". I looked in the book and it appears to be very old. Also a previous owner of the book wrote the date 1901 inside of one of the pages. I was wondering what the value is of this book? Also what was the publication date? I sent you a couple of pictures attached.

A:  This book was published between 1899-1901 and was part of the Beauxarts Series. (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series48.htm)

It is a reprint and most of the books of this series have only nominal value. Occasionally however, since there are many "Alice" collectors out there this title may sell for $20-30.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Can you help me identify this book? Can you tell me something of its value. Inside there is an inscription: "Florence Constance Kilbourn Xmas 1904 From Santa Claus Parkhill" that would be (Ontario, Canada).

A:  Your book was published as part of the Beauxarts Series between 1899-1901. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series48.htm.
It has only nominal value.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  I'm looking for any information about this particular copy of this children's book and the author. My copy is in great shape, no pages missing, the cover spotted but in tact. I believe it to be my grandmother's, and I'm wanting to pass this along to my granddaughter for her birthday.

I find limited info about the author. The book has no publishing date, although I read that the original story was told about 1889, and no listing for the illustrator. Some internet data suggests with was published in Scribner, but we know better.

Any information you can provide will be appreciated.

A:  Your book is part of the Beauxarts Series and was published in 1902. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series48.htm. This series is comprised of numerous reprints.

Altemus published this title in numerous formats. A number of publishers printed this book before Altemus. Scribner did do an early edition but in fairness I am not sure who did the first edition. It may have been Blackie in London in 1894.

I have no independent knowledge about the author but looked up her obituary which appeared in the New York Times in 1936. There is much more about her life in various online sources. Click here for the obituary.

Beauxarts Series

Q:  Please find inclosed three attachments showing you my copy of Oliver W. Holmes' poems published 1902 by your company. On your web site your answer to an inquiry on 27 jun 2006 shows a different photo. My copy has a presentation dated 1902 from a Madeline Hmas to a cousin Olive From. It has 168 pages with a index of other publishcation. The poem Cambrige Churchyard is on page 13 as well. The book is in fairly good condition as the photos shows; but if there is anything else you could tell me about this edition I would appreciate the information including possible collectors value.

A:  This book is the 1900 version of the Beauxarts Series. This series had several different covers over its short publication run. The inquiry on June 27, 2006 shows a cover from this series that was published in 1897. There is no inconsistency. It has very little, if any, collector interest or value.

Boys and Girls Booklovers Series

Q:  Can you identify this book (The Wanderings of Joe and Little Em)?

A:  This book is part of the Boys and Girls Booklovers Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series56.htm.

This series of 22 books consisted of children's stories. Many, including this one, were first editions.

The books had dust jackets and were published in this series between 1905 and 1907.

The author of this book, Albert Bigelow Paine, was best known as a biographer of Mark Twain. (http://www.twainquotes.com/19370410.html)

Boys and Girls Classics (new)

Q:  Hello, we have a copy of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" with the box. The binding is much different than others we have seen from this era [Date of T.P.1897] The binding is printed cloth in several colors with Dutch people, windmills, etc. Red and black paper labels on the front and spine. White endpapers, color frontis, other color and B & W illus. 160 pp. plus ads. Measures 6.75 X 5.25 inches.

The box has a paper floral top. A paper label on the side of the box say's "NO.2 Altemus Boys and Girls Classics Alice's Adventures In Wonderland."

We cannot find a Altemus copy with this binding anywhere. The book itself is Near Fine. Can we assume this is a rare variant binding? Would you have a est. value?

Thank you for your help and excellent website.

A:  Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

This is not a rare binding variant. The binding you describe can be seen in its entirety in the picture section as Swatch 1.

I have seen several designs on the box. They are also shown in the picture section.

Estimating the value is a difficult proposition. Some very common Altemus titles sometimes sell for a multiple of what I think they are worth on one day. On the next day they do not sell at all.

I would estimate a fair value for your book with the scarce box is between $25-100.

Boys and Girls Classics (New)

Q:  This book (The Little Lame Prince) belonged to my grandfather. He was born in 1913. I took a look at your site, and I couldn't find anything that looked quite like it. Could you tell me anything about it? Inside Title page says copyright 1900, but as your site suggest, it may have been published after that.

A:  Your book is part of Series 57 Boys and Girls Classics (New) Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

This series used various pictorial linen cloths for its covers. Your cover has been designated sw-5a and was published sometime between 1908 and the early teens. The exact year can be determined by a study of the ads.

The dating confusion exists because the original Altemus copyright is on the title page. The copyright is not the same as the date of publication in this instance. Also this series used the text from the Young People's Library and thus the title page says the book is from the Young People's Library. This is not the case however.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I searched all over your site but I could not find anything with this cover. It is missing the first six pages and would love to know the year in which it was printed. thank you!

A:  Your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

It is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. You should be able to accurately date it by looking at the ads in the back of the book.

See the last book published in a series and then look up the series.

Boys and Girls Classics Series

Q:  I have 'Fairy Tales' by Hans Christian Andersen, Illustrated by Four Full Page Pictures in Color plus 100+ black and white illustrations with the Altemus ads in the back. The contents are complete with 224 plus 16 pages of ads. However I’m not sure whether there is a title and publisher page missing as the binding is loose with some sections unattached, but still held together with the tied binding. The cover is somewhat discolored, but still very bright including frontispiece.
I've attached pictures and would love any information you may have as to the value of the book. Contents:

Preface
The Swineherd
The Old House
The Story of a Mother
The Bell
The Red Shoes
The Shirt Collar
The Nightingale
The Leaping March
The Saucy Boy
The Ugly Duckling
The Darning Needle
The Emperor's New Suit
The Storks
The Daisy
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
The Angel
Thumbelina
The Flax
The Real Princess
The Shepherdess and the Sweep
The Flying Trunk
The Little Match Girl

Thanks

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girl's Classics Series. For information about this series see: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

This book only has nominal value.