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 am seeking information on the publishing date of a book that was published by your company. It is Poems Volume 1, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and I have attached two pictures of the book. I appreciate any information you can give me. Also, as you can see on the front cover, there seems to be some sort of black substance. Do you have any recommendations for getting this off the cover?

A:  Your book can be found here with the 1898 books. Vademecum Series I do not know how to remove the black substance.

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:  I'm having trouble finding the age and value of this book, Treasure Island. My husband recently received it as a gift and I'm wondering if we need to insure it. Thank you for your help!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1908. It is a reprint.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

Since it probably would not sell for much more than $10-$15, insurance, in my opinion, is not necessary.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, This book is Marcus Aurelius's Thoughts. Could you tell me any information about when it was printed?

A:  Your book is a reprint which was published between 1909-1912 as part of the Vademecum Series. See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180

It originally came within a red box. An example is shown here

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have had this book (Weird Tales) since my grandmother passed away in 1995. I have attempted to search it finding now answers. I have found some similar but not with the same title. Can you help?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901.
It is a reprint.
See: https://www.henryaltemus.com/series/series180.htm

Vademecum Series

Q:  Just wondering about this book (Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin). Could not find it on the website. Mother recently passed and have been going through her things. There is an endearment inside the cover dated Jan 30 1906.

A:  Your book was published in 1905-1906 as part of the Vademecum Series. It is a reprint.

See: Henry Altemus Company - Vademecum Series (later numbering) Series 180