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.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  I am a used book seller and was looking to get some help on possibly identifying the publish year of this book below? (Idylls of the King) Seems to have a type of hide for the cover maybe.

A:  Your book is from the ten volume “Poems We Love Series”. These books are all reprints and were published between 1912 and 1915. They originally were sold within a labeled box. Altemus described them as being bound in “Limp velvet calf”. Several cover colors have been seen.
For more info see: Henry Altemus Company - Poems We Love Series 146

Poems We Love Series

Q:  Just picked this up in a second hand store. The Raven and Other Poems

Wondering what you think of it and its possible value??

A:  This book is part of the Poems We Love Series (Series #146). It was published between 1912-1915. It originally came within a labeled box.

Ordinarily there is very little interest in the books of this series since they are reprints. In addition you are lacking the box that it came in. But there is an active market for books by Poe so it is possible your book would have some value.

For more info see: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series146.htm

Poems We Love Series

Q:  I am looking for information on a soft leather bound of Courtship of Miles Standish printed by the Henry Altemus Co. in Philadelphia. There is no info besides the publisher.

Any information would be helpful.

A:  Your book is part of the "Poems We Love" Series.http://henryaltemus.com/series/series146.htm

It was published between 1912 and 1915.
Originally it came within a labeled box.
An example is shown here.

All of the books in this series are reprints.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  A Child's Garden of Verses. This would have been published between 1912-1915? Which Series # is it and what would it be worth?

A:  Your book is part of the Poems We Love Series. It was published between 1912 and 1915.

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

It has nominal value.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  I'd like to find out how old it is, it was my grandmother's. The Raven and Other Poems

A:  Your book is part of the ten volume Poems We Love Series.

These limp velvet cover books are all reprints. They were published between 1912-1915. Originally these books came within a labeled box.

Poems We Love

Q:  I have a copy of "Lucile" that appears to be Velvet Calf with gold on top. It’s in fairly good condition I'd say (I’m not any expert) with just the bottom of the book cover being bent a little probably from being upright on a shelf. I lay it flat. It is clearly green but is faded on front.

Something I find quite interesting is there are multiple pages that appear to be uncut on the bottom edge. The front simply says "LUCILE" embossed in gold and a gold embossed harp in the lower right corner.

I believe this may have been part of a box set? Could you possibly give me some information on this book?

A:  Your book is part of the ten title Poem's We Love Series. All of the volumes were published between 1912 and 1915 and are reprints.

They originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  Please advise value. Note that condition excellent. Cover leather but no publish date. Idylls of the King

A:  Your book is from Poems We Love Series. This ten book series of reprinted titles was published between 1912-1915. The volumes originally came within a labeled box, an example of which is shown here. Your book has nominal value.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  I found this old book while helping my Mother (84-years old) clean out her house. She says it belonged to her Mother. She is not sure where her Mother got it.

The book is not in good condition. It was wrapped in old tissue paper when I found it. The cover is a reddish-brown suede with gold foil stamp lettering, "BARRACK ROOM BALLADS AND DITTIES," and a "harp-style" musical instrument logo in the bottom right corner.

The title page has the same title name plus author, Rudyard Kipling. Below the author name is the publisher, "Philadelphia, Henry Altemus Company." The page before the title page has a photo of the author, author name, and in small italics, "Frontispiece."

Based on the information from your website, this publisher did not publish suede covers earlier than 1902. I'm not sure if this book has value or, better yet, what to do with it.

A:  Your book was published between 1912-1915 as part of the Poems We Love Series. The limp velvet calf covers came in either brown or green. Each of the ten books in this series originally was published with a labeled box. An example is shown here.

It is a reprint with no significant value.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  Hi. Just found your website. Incredible help and very thorough. Thanks for putting it up. I recently acquired a copy of Barrack Room Ballads and Ditties. I know price is subjective but in your opinion what is a reasonable price?

A:  This book is part of the ten book Poems We Love Series. Each of these limp velvet calf books were published in either green or brown calf and originally came within a labeled box. (See example here). They were published between 1912 and 1915 and all are reprint editions. $10 is not unreasonable.

Poems We Love Series

Q:  Hello. Here is a lovely little book (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam). I’d love to know more about it and any value it may have. Many of the pages are uncut. Gilt on cover and top of pages is in wonderful condition. Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia on the inside. More pics available from every angle if wanted. Thanks.

A:  Your book is part of the Poems We Love Series. This ten book series was published between 1912-1915. The books are bound in limp velvet calf and have been seen in green or brown. When originally sold it came in a labeled box. A picture of the box is here.

The titles are all reprints, not especially collectible and thus have only nominal value (despite the very fine condition of your book).