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.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a book entitled, "Heroes and Hero Worship" by Thomas Carlyle. It is hardback, 4 3/8" wide and 6 1/4" tall with a cloth on cardboard cover. It has some red printing and lovely plates depicting Martin Luther and other 'heroes'. It is 337 pp. long and says "Henry Altemus, Manufacturer: Philadelphia on the title page.

Would this be the original first edition printed in 1841? Any idea of value?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1896. This series was a multivolumed, multiauthored group of books which were reprints of the original editions. This book was originally published in the early 1840s. It originally came in a box.

Because it is a reprint with no special collector interest it has limited value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I recently acquired a copy of a book called Representative Men that I would love to put a date to. It doesn't appear to be dated anywhere, however. The cover appears to be green with a gold and red design; once opened, it opens to a series of pages (some entirely blank and for this reason not mentioned) starting with a blank page with the text "Representative Men", then a more decorative title page saying Representative Men ... Ralph Waldo Emerson ... Henry Altemus Philadelphia, then a page with a portrait of Ralph Waldo Emerson followed by a page that says Representative Men ... Ralph Waldo Emerson ... Philadelphia ... Henry Altemus (the dots just signifying that the following text is a below the preceding). I'm quite curious about its age as I love collecting old knickknacks. I have attached photos and thank you for your help!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1898. This multivolumed, multiauthored series of reprints was published between 1894 and 1926 with numerous different cover formats. The 1898 books came initially in a box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have a copy of House of Seven Gables, published by the Henry Altemus Company. The book is 4 x 6 inches in size. The cover is green, with gilt lettering and red flowers. Pictures of the cover and flowers are attached. Can you please advise as to age and approx. value of this copy.

A:  Your book was published in 1896 as part of the Vademecum Series. This multivolumed, multiauthored series of reprints was published between 1894 and 1926 with numerous different cover formats. The 1896 books came initially in a box. Unless you can find a collector who is very interested in this particular format of this title, your book only will garner nominal value.

Vademecum Series (early numbering)

Q:  I'm just curious about anything you could tell me about this book. Its dated 1894, and lists 3 other books as being by Hawthorne, but I have no other information aside from the publishers (obviously). I recently purchased it for a couple dollars at a flea market. I can send a picture if that would help.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (Series #179). This series was published between 1894 and 1926. At its peak it included 187 books all of which were reprints-fiction, nonfiction, essays, poetry etc. This multi volume, multi authored series generally changed the included volumes as well as the covers yearly for the first number of years and every few years later on. These books originally came with a box.

Vademecum Series (early numbering)

Q:  I have recently come into possession of a book of “Poems” (Subtitled inside the book as “The Raven and Other Poems”) by Edgar Allan Poe that was published by Altemus in Philadelphia, the book however does not have a date of publication in it. I was wondering if you could look at the pictures attached and give me some idea as to when it was published. Thank you very much for your help.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series (Series #179) which was published in numerous formats between 1894 and 1926. This series of reprints at its peak had 187 volumes but the number of books and their titles varied from year to year. This particular book was published in 1895. It originally came in a box.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me anything about this book? (Rip Van Winkle) When printed and such. I can't find it on the internet anywhere. Don't know what it is worth. The woman who get it wrote that it was given to her in 1911. Thanks

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909-1912. It originally came within a red labeled box. An example is shown here

It is a reprint with nominal value.

See: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have just received a lovely book undated, printed by Henry Altemus Company of "The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam". The introduction is by John Hay, with an illustration believed to be by Gilbert James: "A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou".

If possible I would love to know the date of publication and any other information you may have.

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1908. It originally came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

It is a reprint with nominal value.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  If I understand I have the first publication in 1899 of «ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND».
Please find herewith the cover.

A:  You have a 1901 publication of this title. It is part of the Vademecum Series. It is a late reprint.

See: http://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Is it possible to identify the year of this book from the cover? There is no identifying year that I could find in it. Emerson's Essays, Second Series

A:  Yes. Your book was published as part of the Vademecum Series in 1907. During that year books had a number of different colors and applique pictures but the cover template was the same.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I rescued this poor book (Lady of the Lake) at an antique shop but it has not been cared for so the publication date page is missing.

I looked on your site and saw other like it but not this one. Could this possibly be from the 1907 Vademecum series?

A:  Yes, this book is from the Vademecum Series and was published in 1907.
The paste on picture is #18.
For more info see: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series - European Artists