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.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I have two books that I would like to know what they are worth and what they are. I have sent pictures of both their covers and first page. The Pathway of Promise has a copyright of 1896 and says it is by the same author of The Throne of Grace. The Imitation of Christ says it is by Thomas A’Kempis, but does not list a copyright. I would really appreciate whatever you could tell me. Thank You

A:  The Altemus book is part of the Sanspareil Series and was published in 1898. It originally came with a dust jacket. This is a typical publisher's series. All of the its titles are reprints. ../series/series162.htm

I am including here a picture of a representative dust jacket. This book only has nominal value.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I recently came across 2 books at a sale and was intrigued by their covers. Both were published by Henry Altemus, Philadelphia. They are in very good condition, but I can't find a date. The information on the website informed me they were published before 1900. Would you be able to supply me with more information? The one on the left is "Essays" by Lord Francis Bacon and the one on the right is Sesame and Lilies by John Ruskin.
Thank you.

A:  I have included both pages where you can find both of your books.

This site is for the Sanspareil series. Your book (on the right) is an 1898 book. ../series/series162.htm

This site is for the Vademecum Series. Your book (on the left) is an 1897 book. ../series/series179.htm

Both books are part of an Altemus publisher's series. They are reprints and only have nominal value.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I have an Henry Altemus book titled "Essays", by Ralph Waldo Emerson Second series. There is a Roman numeral II on the top of the spine. The front cover is green and has an oval in the center with Red Poppies inside of it. I've attached photos. I thought that I had seen it on your HenryAltemus.com website but now can't locate it. Can you please tell me what series and year it is?

A:  Your book was published in 1898 as part of the Sanspareil Series. This publisher's series included only reprints of poetry, essays, classics, fiction, etc.

See ../series/series162.htm for more information.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I found this in my company’s leave-one-take-one book pile. It’s one of yours. John Ruskin’s Queen of the Air. I have no use for it but if you do lemme know. I like your site.

A:  Your book was published in 1898.

See Sanspareil Series

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I just found this book in a box of old books of my Grandmother. Title is "House of Seven Gables" published by Henry Altemus Manufacture, Philadelphia. There is no publishing date. What can you tell me about it?? Is it worth taking to a book dealer or trying to sell it on e-bay?

A:  This book is part of the Sanspareil Series. The books of this publisher's series of reprints originally had dust jackets.

Your book can be found here: Series 162

It was published in 1898.

It has only nominal value.

Sanspareil Series (earlier numbering)

Q:  We have a book, The Autocrat of The Breakfast Table, by Oliver Wendell Holmes, copyright 1897, any help or information would be greatly appreciated.

A:  Your book was published in 1898 as part of the Sanspareil Series. It is a reprint. For more information, see: Series 162

Sanspareil Series

Q:  Hello found this in my uncle's things is this rare? What year is it from? Lowell's Poems

A:  Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Sanspareil Series. It is a reprint. It is not a very collectible book and only has nominal value.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Sanspareil Series 163 (later numbering-1899)

Sanspareil Series

Q:  This is The Scarlett Letter By Nathaniel Hawthorne.
I am wondering if it has any value.

A:  Your book is part of the Sanspareil series and was published in 1899.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Sanspareil Series 163 (later numbering-1899)

It is a reprint and unfortunately only has nominal value.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  A Wonder Book. Nathaniel Hawthorne. Illustrated. No publication date. Inscribed with Mary Brooks signature, class of Reduman S. S. Ephiphany 1900. Miss Banks Class.

A:  Your book was published in 1899 as part of the Sanspareil Series. This is the cover pattern for all of the 110 titles of this year. All of the volumes are reprints.
Henry Altemus Company - Sanspareil Series 163
The covers have been seen in several colors and originally this book came with a dust jacket. See here.

Sanspareil Series

Q:  I just received this copy of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Louis Carroll and I am struggling to find any clues to the origins I'd this book (such as the age, series, or worth) and I was hoping you could give me some insight, I saw a copy of Black Beauty on Amazon with the same hard cover but neither have a dust cover so although I know is published by Altemus I don't know which copy this is.

A:  Your book is part of the Sanspareil Series and was published in 1899. It originally came with a dust jacket.

During this year, a number of different color covers were published. Some of these in addition to a representative dust jacket picture are shown on the series page.

There are quite a few "Alice" collectors. The Altemus Alice books that have a picture on the cover seem to sell for much higher prices than the publisher's series Alice's. Thus, unless you find a collector that just has to have this format, your book will probably not sell for very much.