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.

Boys and Girls Classics (newer)

Q:  we would like to know if this book (Mother Goose's Rhymes Jingles and Fairy Tales) belongs to henry altemus and what year it was printed, it has no copyright or author, and how much this book may be worth in your opinion we got it at a yard sale for two dollars and want to know if it was worth it.

A:  It was published in 1908 or later. The exact year can be determined by the ads in the back of the book.

You can find out more about your book here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

It only has nominal value.

Boys and Girls Classics Series

Q:  Hi: Can you tell me what date the book in the attachment was printed?
Thank you,

A:  Your book belongs to this series:
http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

It was published in the early to mid teens.

The ads in the back can give a more exact date.

Boys and Girls Classics (new)

Q:  after looking at your website I decided you were the most knowledgeable one to ask about this piece of literature (Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm). It was a gift to my great grandma from her aunt, then to my aunt (who recently pasted), then to me. I just got it yesterday and am about to start reading it. I plan on putting it in my safe for someone told me it was a valuable book. I tried to research it and the only luck I've had is seeing pages from the book on a national geographic web page and another antique web page was selling 4 illustrated pages from the book for $10 each. I have not been able to find any other information on it. If you could tell me more about the book, what it may be valued at, and the best way to preserve it so the pages and cover don't fall out (the first page, which I sent you a picture of, is the only one that has became unattached from the binding) it'd be much appreciated.

A:  You can find your book here http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm . It is a late reprint.

It is not especially rare or valuable. This particular cover was published between 1908 and the early teens.

Generally when this book sells at all, it is for less than $20. With its original box the price would be significantly more.

If you have other questions, let me know.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I am hoping that you will be able to tell me a little something about a book I have that belonged to my grandmother. I have been searching the internet but haven't found anything that has the same cover as mine. It is an 1897 copy of Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass", cloth covered. I have attached some pictures.

Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks so much.

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm. You can see in the pictures covers that match yours.

It was published in sometime between 1908-1926. The ads in the back can help you determine exactly when.

The books of this series originally came in a floral decorated box which can be seen in the picture section.

Boys and Girls Classics Series (New)

Q:  I have a family book of A Child's Garden of Verses by R. L. Stevenson that was part of the Young Peoples Library with a copyright of 1902. In looking at your website, the design of the dust jacket matches what I believe is the Series 57 Boys and Girls design with the ship pattern, however I do not see that particular book in your photographs. Could you confirm the attached photo and possibly provide information regarding its value?

A:  Yes you are correct about the series that your book is from. Your cover is not a dust jacket but rather the cover of the book. The jacket is quite different.

Not every possible title is shown on the website. Instead I have used representative pictures of each format.

The various covers from this series can be seen at: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series57.htm

These books generally sell for only a few dollars if they sell at all.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I was wondering if you could tell me anything about this book? It has no date what-so-ever, but from your website I am guessing it to be about a 1901-1903 publication of Black Beauty? My copy has an ink splot on the cover.

A:  Your book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm

These books were published between 1899 and 1906. You can date this book more closely by looking at the ads and then at the section on the site above which gives a dating flowchart.

It is a reprint and is relatively common. Initially this book came in a labeled box.

Boys and Girls Classics (old)

Q:  I was reading up on your information on the Henry Altemus Company books.. and was wondering if I could email you some pictures so you can help me with the age of the book. The title is Through the Looking Glass, and there is no date. Any information you can give me would be appreciated.

A:  Your book belongs to this series-Boys and Girls Classics (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm).

These books were published between 1899 and 1906.

Altemus incorporated in 1900 so since the imprint on your book is Henry Altemus Company it was published no earlier than 1900.

Since it is inscribed 1902-your book was published between 1900 and early 1903.

For a more exact dating look at the site noted above. There is a dating section.

Appreciate that the vast majority of Altemus' Through the Looking Glass books carry an 1897 copyright.

On Ebay these books are listed as being published in 1897. These listings for the most part are wrong.

Boys and Girls Classics

Q:  I got your contact information from the Internet (http://en.allexperts.com/q/Book-Collecting-3231/2009/7/Altemus-Black-Beauty.htm). Can you tell me anything about the attached edition of Black Beauty?

Thank you for your time.

A:  Information about your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm. It is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series. This series of forty reprints can be found with and without the gold decorative gilt pattern seen on your book cover. On the series page you can see how to date your book by checking the ads in the back of the book. It was published between 1899 and 1902.

It is a reprint and has only nominal value.

Boys and Girls Classics (Old)

Q:  Hello! I have a copy of Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (photos attached). I was both surprised and pleased to learn that this might be valuable. Can you give me any more information than is included on your website about this book and its value? I have learned so far that it is included in the Series 58 - Boys and Girls Classics (old). It seems to be Format 2, according to your website's information.

A:  You have identified the correct series. It is Format 4 however. It was published by Henry Altemus Company not Henry Altemus. (See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm). Unfortunately I do not think it is a valuable book. Treasure Island was reprinted by hundreds of publishers in this era. Although many of the formats are quite nice (like yours), they have very little value on the collector's market.

For an interesting look at many Robinson Crusoe reprints see http://larryvoyer.com/RobinsonCrusoe/crusoe%20pages/crusoe-main.htm

This book generally sells for between $0-10.

Boys and Girls Classics (Old)

Q:  Any information that you can provide on this particular book (Two Years Before the Mast) will be appreciated.

A card found inside the book indicates it was a Christmas present in 1901.

A:  Information about your book can be found here: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series58.htm

This series of 40 books consisted mostly of books for juveniles in addition to a few classics.

Based on format your book was published between 1899 and 1902.

It is a reprint and has minimal value.