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.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Just curious about value of this small book ( about 4.5” x 6.5” ). Inherited from Aunt and believe date post 1900. Evangeline

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1903-1904. It originally was sold within a labeled box.

All of the books in this series are reprints.

There were four different styles printed during these two years. The pedestal has been seen in three colors (beige-most common, blue and pink) and as an ooze calf book. A picture of any one of sixteen flowers are possible for the right half of the book covers.

It is a reprint and has nominal value (a couple of dollars).

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I purchased this book recently because of the beautiful cover and my love of Victorian literature. Could you tell me the publication date? Sesame and Lilies

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1906.

This format has been seen with four different flowers on the left side of the cover. It also originally came within a labeled box. See here for examples.

All the titles in this series are reprints.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I bought "Poe's Poems" in an antique store in Guthrie, Oklahoma for $6. I've searched the Internet for it and I cannot find it anywhere; whenever coming across your website, I entered the title and it said that nothing of the such was in the data base. There are also a total of 32 pages at the end of the book that lists others that were published by the Henry Altemus Company. In the front cover, as pictured, December 25th, 1910 has been written in - hopefully that gives insight into the general time it was published. If there's a year and also probably a value on the book, I would love to know that information.

A:  This book is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It was published in 1908-1909. As with all the titles in this series, it is a reprint.

This format originally came within a labeled box. See here.

You paid fair value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I am trying to find out the possible value range of an antique book that once belonged to my grandmother, entitled Poe's Poems. I believe it is a first edition, and strangely, it has no publication date printed within it anywhere. It does appear at the back of the book under the list of "Publications of Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia" as number "...159 Poe's Poems" under the heading "Altemus' New Illustrated Vademecum Series." I am attaching multiple photos of the book...sorry that my phone's camera is not very good.

I would appreciate any info. you can provide.

A:  Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series.

As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. Originally it was sold within a labeled box.

The cover is interesting because of the illustration on the right which was drawn by Alphonse Mucha, a well known Czech artist. It is called "Poetry".

Several Altemus formats feature Mucha drawings.

Ordinarily it might be worth a few dollars, but in this shape it has no monetary value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Please any info would be great. I got book (Lucile) from my grandmother and i know nothing about it but your site was helpful thank you. i know you prolly don't appraise books but if you could just please give me a ball park idea i would hate to give something away for nothing. Thank you for your time.

A:  Hello, Your book was published in 1901-1902 and is part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint.

In this format the left half of the book front cover has a stereotyped pattern whereas the right half either has one of sixteen flower patterns or one of two illustrations done by Alphonse Mucha. Your book has a Mucha illustration.

You can read a bit about this variant here: ../about/updates112605.htm from a November 26, 2005 post.

Although your book is in nice shape, it has minimal value. Certainly less than $20.

The other Mucha cover is shown here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I have a copy of Outre Mer that has no copyright date, I would very much like to know it’s publication date. I thought perhaps that it was part of the L’Art Nouveau series. In the first few pages there is a picture of a man on a horse in battle if that is of any help. Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1908-1909.

It is a reprint.

Originally it was sold within a labeled box. See here.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I found your webpage while trying to research background on books we are selling from our too extensive collection! I’ve been placing many of these on eBay but I don’t want to give improper information.

This book Plain Tales From The Hills, Rudyard Kipling, Philadelphia, Henry Altemus is dated 1898 but there is a loose page – I thought might have broken free from book. Is photo of author Rudyard Kipling – This photo is dated 1899 which contradicts the actual date of the book.

I have found many books listed stating this date and publishing but the do not look like this one. I would like any information you can give me on this book and edition.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1899. The Altemus copyright date is not necessarily the same as the publication date.

This title is a reprint and originally was sold within a labeled box. See here.

The covers of this format have a stereotyped pattern on the left. As of this time 28 decorative patterns have been seen on the right half of the cover. See website.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hi, I tried to send from website but I could not. Can you help with information on this? I was so surprised to see your website and the amount of books. Through the Looking Glass

A:  This book is a part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1901-1902.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. Several formats of this style exist. On the right half of the cover one of 16 different flower pictures were used. On the left half the lady and her decoration are either in beige, pink or blue. The beige is the most common with the blue being quite scarce.

Originally the box was sold within a labeled box.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  Hello, I found this book and was wondering how old and how much is it worth. The is no title page and I had no idea who the author was until I looked it up. The Chimes. Thank you.

A:  Your book is part of the Petit Trianon Series and was published in 1908-1909.

It was originally sold within a labeled box. See here.

It is a late reprint and only has nominal value.

Petit Trianon Series

Q:  I was recently going through some old books I have that either came from my grandmother’s house or from a library book sale. I’m thinking it came from my grandmother’s house, though, as there are no library markings on it. Longfellow's Poems Volume II

Anyway, I was curious as to when it was published; but there is no date listed anywhere in the book. So I did some research on your website and have come to the conclusion that it was either printed in 1903 or 1904. I found a picture of a book with the same cover, but different title on your website. This is based on information I found on your website at the links below:

http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series143.htm

http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/images/S143_1903_v224.jpg

Attached are a picture of the cover and of the inside title page. Would you say this is a rather accurate assessment of the publishing date?

As you can see, it’s not in the greatest of shape; but I don’t really care about that as I love antiques. And if it did come from my grandmother’s house, it also has sentimental value. I find it interesting that it starts at page 187, though. But I’m assuming that’s because it’s Volume II.

Anyway, I was just curious to know what else you may know about it; and I thought you may find these pictures interesting.

A:  Your research is right on target. This title is part of a publisher's series. These series which were produced by numerous firms generally included a number of books that required no author reimbursement. All the titles here were reprints.

In this series the cover had a stereotypical left sided pedestal design and one of 16 flower pictures on the right. The volumes originally came within a labeled box. (An example is here.)

Interestingly the pedestal design area has been seen in beige (most common), blue, pink and this format was also published in ooze calf (least common).