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.

Diplome D'Honneur Series

Q:  Hi my name is Amber and I recently purchased this book from a flea market. The cover says "Endymion" and the title page says "Endymion, and other poems." Unfortunately, the first 12 pages are missing. I would like to know the year in which this book was published. Thank You.

A:  Your book is part of the Diplome L'Honneur Series and was published in 1902. This series was only published for one year and the books are somewhat uncommon. See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series76.htm.

Dore's Masterpieces

Q:  Hello!! I was at a flea market today and picked up a copy of The Dore Bible Gallery. The book caught my eye due to a number of things I had learned in passing from my grandfather, who was an antiquarian bookseller. After some web surfing, I came upon your page and was surprised at what I discovered regarding this book.

The picture of the book can be found on your page here:

The advertising flyer, shown at this link, is still in the book:

I am contacting you in hopes you can help me with some information. Is there a way to determine the exact printing date? There is no date on the cover, or even the preface. How many copies were printed in the various years? Is the inclusion of the flyer that was normally distributed with the book, influence the value, or help in determining when it was printed? Was this volume originally boxed?

Any other tips, clues or information regarding this book you could provide or give me advice about, would be very very appreciated.

A:  The book you have did originally come within a box. It was printed between 1889-1900. There is nothing that distinguishes an earlier book from a later book.

I do not have print number runs. But none of the Dore books are especially hard to find. Although I believe that all of the Dore books had an advertising flyer within the book, I cannot prove it.

There is quite a range in prices for this book. The flyer has no effect although I would think it should.

This title sells for between $25-75 in most instances. I frequently see asking prices of $200-300 but these books seldom (if ever) sell. Occasionally I see the individual prints for sale in a book that has been parted out. I have never seen an individual print from the book sell for much at all.

If I can be of any other help, please let me know.

Dore's Masterpieces

Q:  Hello! At a charity auction I acquired a copy of an Altemus Paradise Lost book.

Inside the book is an inscription which reads: "To my dear niece Gertrude, from Aunt May. Christmas 1888"

However, I think this may not be authentic, as it appears the book would not have been published until mid-1889. Out of curiosity, do you know if it would have been possible to have the book prior to 1889?

I've attached pictures of the book for reference!

A:  In most years the next year's edition would come out at Xmas before the new year. So for example a book which is a first edition with the date on the title page may still have an inscription of December of the year before.

Dore's Masterpieces Series

Q:  My book (Dante's Purgatory and Paradise) looks identical to your picture that I added below. Do you know how much it may be worth? As you had mentioned on your website, the book has no publishing date. The binding has not been well maintained but the pages look good other than some browning around the edges. Thank you very much for your help.

A:  This book usually sells between $25-100 when it is auctioned on Ebay.

More information can be found at Dore's Masterpieces Series.

Dore's Masterpieces

Q:  Hi. I'm curious to find out how much this book might be worth. Any information you could tell me would be greatly appreciated.

A:  This book sells for between $25 and $125 as an average. Your book is not in the best shape so it probably would go on the low end of that range.

This format was published between 1889 and 1900.

This book is very common but people buy it frequently to sell the illustrations individually.

How successful that venture is would just be a guess.

For more about the series see: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series78.htm

Esperance Series

Q:  Could you tell me more information about this book? See attached. What series would it be? How much it might be worth? I welcome anything you know!

A:  Your book is part of the Esperance Series. See http://henryaltemus.com/series/series79.htm. It was published between 1905 and 1909.

This series of twenty books originally came in a labeled box. All the books which are reprints can be found in either brown or green suede.

Generally these books sells for between $0-20.

Esperance Series

Q:  I have a copy of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Altemus Esperance Series, in the original box. Henry Altemus Company 1896. Green with embossed leaves, the title in gold. Someone has inscribed it on an inside cover page "To dear Bessie with love from cousin Carrie, Christmas 1912, and included a gift card inscribed Bessie. Other than that it is in pristine condition. The box is very, very good with only one small tear to the edge. The original label is on the box in very very good condition. How would I go about finding the value and selling it?

A:  This book and series can be found at http://henryaltemus.com/series/series79.htm
Books of this series with the original box usually sell for between $10-50.

In fairness though, you really just never know regarding the top or bottom of the price range.

I have included a picture of a box and a book from this series the questioner did not provide a picture for me.

Esperance Series

Q:  I am attempting to get some information about a book that was given to me many years ago by a family friend. It is a copy of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. On the title page it says
Philadelphia
Henry Altemus Company
On the back side of that page it says: "Copyright 1896 by Henry Altemus"

It is a small 6 1/4" long x 4 1/2" wide with a soft suede green cover with a pattern of embossed oak (?) leaves on the cover. The front cover is faded but the gilt lettering of the title is still easily readable. Inside there is a split between the lower half of the first 3 pages and the rest of the pages in the book (along the spine).

Can you give me any idea of when it was actually printed, it's orginal cost and value today?

A:  I am enclosing a picture of what I think you are describing. This book comes from the Esperance Series. If I am incorrect, let me know.

Info about this series is at:
http://henryaltemus.com/series/series79.htm

These books were published later than your 1896 copyright. The 1896 reflects when Altemus first published this title. (In a different format).

Your book originally came with a box.

Without the box the book does not usually sell for more than nominal value. Of course, you never know what someone will pay.

Esperance Series

Q:  I recently came into possession of a book by Florence Ridley Havergal titled "Royal Invitation for the Kings' Children" and published by Henry Altemus Company. There is no publishing date and I am wondering who Florence Ridley Havergal was and her relation to Frances Ridley Havergal who I believe was the author of these prayers. I would greatly appreciate it if you could enlighten me.

A:  This book is part of the Esperance Series (Series #79). Published between 1905 and 1909, this 20 book series had only one format. Limp green velvet with gold gilt lettering. It originally came in a labeled box. 6.5 x 4.5.

The Eternal Life Series

Q:  I have this book can you tell me anything?

A:  This book is part of Series 80- The Eternal Life Series. This book is #8 in that series and was published between 1896 and 1898. Books of this series have the leatherette covers. At this point in time eight different covers have been seen for each title. These books have only nominal value.