Henry Altemus Company

Non Series #28- Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

This ad from December 1890 in Publisher's Weekly highlights Pilgrim's Progress. This ad shows the cover of the first Altemus edition of this title.

Also noted in the ad is the second volume of the Idle Hours Series (#107) -published in 1891 and the Dore Masterpieces (Series #79).

Non Series #9 - Annie Besant

Henry Altemus did not advertise extensively in trade journals. I intend at this time to begin posting some of their ads. This one is for a rather uncommonly found Altemus book. This title can be found in the non series section. The ad is from the main trade periodical of the era- Publishers' Weekly in 1895.

Ephemera

Here is yet another check printed by Altemus & Co. at the turn of the century. This one is of interest because the company the check was issued for was in New Jersey as opposed to Pennsylvania.

Ephemera-1897

Here is a stock certificate printed by Altemus & Co. in 1897.

Ephemera-1890's

Here is another check published by Altemus & Company for a Philadelphia bank. This was printed at the turn of the century. Although the books had the Henry Altemus imprint, the paper items had the Altemus & Company imprint.

Ephemera-1890's

This check was printed by Altemus & Co. as noted by the imprint on the bottom left. Most of the printing work done by Altemus was for Philadelphia companies.

Non Series #28 Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress

This ad was found in the book of the same name. Although Altemus published this book over several years in the early 1890s, this ad is for the 1891 book.
During these two years Altemus offered two formats priced at $3.00 and $6.00. This can be seen at the bottom of the sheet. By 1892, the $6.00 book was no longer advertised. Instead a $5.00 Presentation book bound in Persian Levant Morocco was offered.

Non Series

Non Series #11- Around the World in Eighty Minutes

Around the World in Eighty Minutes advertisement

In 1894 Altemus published "Around the World in Eighty Minutes". Written by Wm. S. Walsh, it consisted of text opposite photographs of monuments or edifices. Pictures were from all over the world, thus the title.

The book came in two different formats. The illuminated paper covers book was priced at fifty cents while the Fine English cloth and silver book was one dollar. Of interest is the fact that two different hardcover books have been seen with fine English cloth while no example of the illuminated paper covered books has been discovered.

The two English cloth books differ from each other not only in the cover design but in the quality of their printing also. The book noted as “a” has thicker better quality paper as compared to the book designated as “b”. Thus the former book is significantly thicker and heavier. The book pictured in the ad is type "b". Two cover colors have been seen.

This wonderful glossy advertising sheet which is 5.5 x 2.25 was found in an Altemus Library, Format 2 book.

Altemus Photographic Album & Ephemera

Altemus produced photographic albums from the early 1860s to at least the 1890s. (See Section 1 in the bibliography.)

Today a card which is shown below was discovered in the album pictured below. The pictured album is somewhat fancier than most other Altemus albums. Note the inlaid gold gilt designs on the fore-edges of the album. The bottom, top and interior page edges all have a gold gilt leaf design embossed on top of the gold gilt page edges. (See picture). The cover is sealskin with an ornate inlaid gold pattern. This was one of the more expensive examples of photographic albums that Altemus produced.