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:  This book belonged to my great grandfather. What is the current value, if any, as it is being passed on to family members? Greatly appreciated.
The Crucifixion of Philip Strong

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series.

This series contains a group of books, all unrelated, that are reprints. Each year or so Altemus would reprint these titles with a new decorative cover.

Your book was published in 1900. It originally came within a labeled box. It only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you identify the publishing date for this "Black Beauty" book? Is there any value to it?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903. More than 40 different appliqués were used on the front cover of the books of this format.

These books originally came within a labeled box. See here.

This book is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you tell me about this book? The Lays of Ancient Rome. No dates anywhere in the book, but other books are offered in the back from $.40 to $1.25. Thanks!

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series. It was published in 1904.

It is a reprint with nominal value.

It originally was sold with a labeled box. See here.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I have four books and I am trying to find out more information about them. I have attached photos of the covers.

They are Bryant's Poems, Evangeline and Other Poems, Milton's Poems, and Holmes' Poems. They were my wife's grandfathers.

I appreciate you taking the time to help me.

A:  Your books are from the Vademecum Series and were published in 1905-1906.

As with all of the title in this series, they are reprints. Originally they came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

None if these books have very collectible titles and therefore only have nominal value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Can you give me info. on this book - Emerson's Essays Second Series published by Henry Altemus Co in Phila?

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published between 1909 and 1912.

It is a reprint and originally was sold within a labeled box. An example is shown here.

It is not a title that is in demand and thus it only has nominal value.

Vademecum Series/Leinbach and Bro.

Q:  I acquired an Altemus book that appears to have been made for a local business in Reading Pa to give to customers. Mosses from an Old Manse

Its ad says they were in business since 1865 and reference 35 yrs which would put publication at around 1900.

Can you provide any info?

A:  Altemus had a long relationship with Leinbach and Bro., a Reading, Pa. department store. As early as 1892 and as late as 1915 Leinbach gave away Altemus books as some type of promotion. The books had an advertisement for Leinbach in the front and the back. Usually on the back cover there was a stamped "Compliments of Leinbach & Bro.".

For more information see: Leinbach and Bro.

The book above is a 1903 book from the Vademecum Series.

Vademecum Series

Q:  I found your website and wondered if you could help determine the market price of The Cricket on the Hearth published by Henry Altemus.
Thanks much.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1905-1906.

During this year four different flower patterns were placed as paste-ons (appliqués) on the covers. See here.

The covers were published in a number of different colors and the books came in a labeled box. See here.

All of the titles in this series are reprints so only the most collectible ones have any significant value.

This title is not among the valuable ones (in my opinion).

Vademecum Series

Q:  Hello, I am cleaning out some books and this is one I searched online for and found your site! Can you tell me anything about this book? Copyright is 1899. The Yellowplush Papers

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1901. As with all of the titles in this series, it is a reprint. It originally came within a labeled box.

In 1901 there were more than 40 different appliqués seen with this cover.

It is not a very widely collectible title and has little, if any, monetary value.

Vademecum Series

Q:  What do you think of this? No date. Knickerbocker's History of New York

A:  Your book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1903.

All of the titles in this series are reprints. The books were originally sold within a labeled boxes. An example is shown here.

During this year many different cloth colors have been seen. There were more than 40 appliqué pictures pasted on the cover template.

The picture on any one book is generally part of a larger picture. See here.

For more information about the paintings on the front covers of these books see Vademecum Series.

Vademecum Series

Q:  Poe's Poems... absolutely no dates??? Hope you can help... 1000 thanks.

A:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series and was published in 1904. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

Each year to two the cover changed and was characteristic for that year. In 1904 the covers were seen in a number of different colors and there were four different flower appliques. Your book's flower is Queen Anne's Lace.

The 1904 volumes came within a labeled box. An example is shown here.