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.

Dainty Series

Q:  I have a book that was given to me that I am curious about. It is called The Children's Shakespeare written by E. Nesbit published by Philiadelphia Henry Altemus Company Copyright 1900. I found it in your archives under the Dainty Series. It is almost exactly the same with the exception that it does not have the Henry Altemus.com the bottom of it. Can you tell me a bit about it? Here is the picture. Is it rare? A first edition?

A:  Your book is part of the 5th format of this series. http://henryaltemus.com/series/series74.htm.
Thus it is not an Altemus first edition.

It is not especially rare and has very little collector interest especially without a dust jacket.

Dainty Series

Q:  I have a book (copy attached) that is titled "The Silver Buckle - A Tale of the Revolution. It is authored by M. Nataline Crumpton. The 6th page reflects the words, "Copywrite 1899 by Henry Altemus. The illustrations were by Cornelis E. Bedford. Can you give me more information and value?

A:  Your book is volume # 1 in the Dainty Series. It is part of the 3rd format (of five) published between 1903 and 1905. Without a dust jacket it has little collector value or interest.

Dainty Series

Q:  I am doing research on two books published by the Henry Altemus Company. They were written by Mary D. Brine and published in 1900 and 1903. They are The Doings of a Little Couple (1900) and How a Little Couple Went Abroad (1903). I am interested in finding out the name of the illustrator or illustrators for each book. Would you have that information? They are going to be used in an exhibition and we would like to identify the artist of the illustration for the public. Additional information you can provide on the books would also be most helpful. Your web page was a wonderful find. If you could place the books within your series I would be most appreciative. I have attached a photograph of each book to assist you.

A:  I am unable to help with the illustrators. Sorry.

Both books were part of the Dainty Series (Series #74). The Dainty Series was a series of total of 26 books of which yours are numbered 9 (Doings..) and 15 (How..). There were a number of different formats. Your books are from Format 2 and were published in the early 1900s. They all came with dust jackets. I am enclosing a picture of what the format 2 books' jacket looked like. This series was occasionally called the Honor Bright Series in some catalogues.

Devotional Series

Q:  I have a copy of Gold Dust by Henry Altemus. The book measures 4 1/2" X 6 1/4" with what appears to be cloth covered. I will send pics of the cover and the first few pages inside. On the page of copyright it reads: "Copyrighted by Henry Altemus, of Philadelphia, in the state of Pennsylvania, A.D.1897, in the One Hundred and Twenty-second Year of Independence of the United States of America." Below that at the bottom of the page it reads: "Henry Altemus Manufacturer Philadelphia". On the opposite page it reads: "To E.B.H. This little book is most lovingly dedicated". On the inside cover it has hand written "christmas 1899 from Drarish".

What can you tell me about this book, is it common or rare, what's it value???

A:  Your book is part of the Devotional Series. See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series75.htm Each year or two the covers of the Devotional Series were changed. The books are quite common and are all reprints. Your book only has nominal value.

Devotional Series

Q:  Can you please give any information regarding the attached picture of the Bible Birthday Book. Any information would be greatly appreciated!

A:  Your book was published between 1908 and 1924 as part of the Devotional Series.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series75.htm

It originally came inside a labeled box.

It has only nominal, if any, value.

Devotional Series

Q:  We have a book written by Rev. Charles Spurgeon (John Ploughman's Talk). Published by Henry Altemus Company. No publishing date is listed. Could you tell us something about this book. Does it have any value?

A:  Your book was published in about 1907 as part of the Devotional Series.

See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series75.htm

Devotional Series

Q:  I have a book from my grandmother. It is titled “Gold Dust”. I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit about it. It does not have an author listed. I noted on your website that there was one Gold Dust series book that was anonymous. The name at the end of the preface is C.M. Yonge. The book was signed by someone who must have given this to my grandmother. He signed and dated it 1912. Thanks for your help.

A:  Your book belongs to the Devotional Series and can be seen at http://henryaltemus.com/series/series75.htm as a Format 5 book.

This title was popular among all the reprint publishing houses. Since none of them paid any royalties this was one of the books that was published in a myriad of formats by different publishers in the late 19th and early 20th century.

This title is not widely collected and your book only has nominal value.

Devotional Series

Q:  I was emailing in regards to a book in which we have and it is printed by Henry Altemus Company Philadelphia and it is by Henry Drummond and it is called the Natural Law in the Spiritual World.

If you could please email some information I would appreciate it as there is no publication date on it.

A:  This book is part of the Devotional Series (http://henryaltemus.com/series/series75.htm). This series of religious titles was published between 1895 and 1933. The book pictured here is part of Format 5 and was printed between 1898 and 1924. It originally came in a labeled box.

Its date can be determined by studying the ads in the back and figuring out when the books/series were published. This is relatively easy to do. Also if the title page says Henry Altemus Company the book was published in 1900 or later. If it says Henry Altemus it was published prior to 1900.

Devotional Series

Q:  I recently purchased an old copy of "John Ploughman's Talk" by Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon published by Henry Altemus Company, Philadelphia. It has no date in it. I would like to know how old it is. Can you help me? Attached are pictures to help.

A:  Your book is part of the Devotional Series (#75) and was published between 1901-1904. As you can see, there is a picture inside the oval on the cover of the book. There were a number of different pictures with this one appearing most often.

Devotional Series

Q:  I have recently come across a copy of Throne of Grace. Unfortunately, I am having a hard time finding information on this particular copy. Can you, please, take a look at this picture and give me a few details?

A:  Your book is part of the Devotional Series. This series of religious reprints consisted of at most 52 books. Different covers and different titles were published yearly beginning in 1895. This cover format was published between 1905-1908. These books are relatively common. Originally they came with boxes.