Henry Altemus Company

Classics Series

Ebay description:  Gold Dust......1890s DJ

UP FOR AUCTION A CIRCA 1890s BOOK. "GOLD DUST" PART OF THE ALTEMUS CLASSICS SERIES, PUBLISHED BY HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY. NO COPYRIGHT DATE, I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND BOOKS SIMILAR TO THIS WERE LISTED AS 1890s TO 1907.

The Reality:  The Altemus Classic's Series was first published in 1907. The name of the series was changed to the Slip-in-the--Pocket Series in 1909. Thus this book was published in 1908-1909.

Boys and Girls Classics

Ebay description:  SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON 1899 FIRST EDITION

Author: Henry Altemus

Publisher: Henry Altemus Company

Published: 1899- First Edition

The Reality:  This book was part of the Boys and Girls Classics which were published beginning in 1908 and reprinted for numerous years thereafter. The title page is from the Young People's Library which states 1899 making the dating of this book somewhat confusing. But simple research easily reveals the actual date of the very rare first edition.

Popular Series of Famous Authors

Ebay description:  FIRST 1ST EDITION HOUSE OF SEVEN 7 GABLES HAWTHORNE

THIS AUCTION IS FOR A FIRST EDITION THE HOUSE OF THE SEVEN GABLES, BY NATHANIAL HAWTHORNE. IT MEASURES: 5 3/4"H X 4 1/4"W

PUBLISHED BY HENRY ALTEMUS IN 1893

THIS WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A FIRST EDITION HAWTHORNE ...

The Reality:  Since Nathaniel Hawthorne died in 1864, it is unlikely that the first edition of this popular book was published 29 years thereafter. Actually the first edition was published by Ticknor, Reed and Fields in 1851. AS is usually the case-Altemus did late late reprints of very popular 19th century novels.

Vademecum Series

Ebay description:  Rare 1850 Altemus Marvel's Reveries of a Bachelor

Here is an 1850 antiquarian collectible volume titled Reveries of a Bachelor, by IK Marvel. Produced by Henry Altemus of Philadelphia. Several illustration plates throughout this volume, printed in green ink. Inscription by Donald G Mitchell dated May 1892 inside 2nd page appears to be hand written with ink quill pen. Illustration of Donald G. Mitchell opposite title page.

This volume is printed with possible stone or early lithograph process from mid-1800's. I do not have a letter of authenticity however I believe this volume speaks for itself.

The Reality:  This is an 1896 book published as part of the Vademecum Series.

The seller actually invents some "early lithographic process from the mid-1800's" comment to help convince someone of the authenticity of this book's date.

The "inscription by Donald G. Mitchell" is in reality a facsimile signature which can easily be noted by simple inspection.

This is a late reprint. The American first edition was published by Baker and Scribner in 1850. The seller is probably mistaking a preface in the book dated 1850 with the publication date of this book. The preface just like the book was a reprint.

Boys and Girls Classics (old)

Ebay description:  1888 Tales From Shakespeare Charles + Mary Lamb

Edition: Presumed First Edition Binding: Hard Cover Publisher: Henry Altemus, Philadelphia Date Published: 1878 Description: Very Good. No Jacket. 12mo-over 6¾"-7¾" tall. 1878. First edition. Hardbound. Book very good, no jacket. Date 1878 from intro, no other dates. Cover brown with gilt and colored illustration of jester with mask and bladder on front, color plate of Romeo and Juliet as frontis piece. Introduction by publisher A.A. dated October 1878. From the Altemius Illustrated Vademecum Series.

The Reality:  This book was part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series (not Vademecum Series) published in 1900-1901. Not a first edition but just another reprint. This seller clearly is not even close to describing this book accurately. But even worse is the $80 buy it now and the $11.25 shipping cost. Find me the buyer of this book at this price. I have a bridge to sell!

Vademecum Series

Ebay description:  Heroes and Hero Worship, Thomas Carlyle, c. 1898
Published by Henry Altemus, undated, ...Some illustrations, averages around $50.00 from dealers.

The Reality:  This book is part of the Vademecum Series. None of the books of this series are worth anything near $50. Again, as stated before, what a dealer lists a book for is frequently nowhere near the price that the book eventually sells for.

Mother's Ever New Fairy Tale Series

Ebay description:  1st Ed.1905 Mother's Yellow Fairy Tale Book Children

This antique first edition book of childrens fairy tales is titled: " Mother's Yellow Fairy Tale book - A Third Book of Ever New Fairy Tales and Other Stories For Little Folk " It was arranged by Laura Dent Crane and published in 1905 by the Henry Altemus Company of Philadelphia. I am not a book expert, but from what I have seen on the web this is a hard to find children's book. It is comprised of 256 pages with many (over 100) fine black and white illustrations and 2 color plates.

The Reality:  The stories in this book were first published in the Mother Goose Series (Series #131) by Altemus in 1905 but this compilation of stories was not published in this series until 1911.

See: http://henryaltemus.com/series/series133.htm

Petit Trianon Series

Ebay description:  Kept For The Master's Use, By Francis Ridley Havergal, Henry Altemus, 1879!!

160 pages. .... Prefatory note indicates that the author died just after revising the proofs of the book in June 1879, which delayed printing until the fall of 1979. Book measures 6.5" X just under 4.5".

The Reality:  This book was published in 1899 by Henry Altemus. Altemus printed no books for reading before 1889. Numerous publishers produced this book in the 1880s and early 1890s. The prefatory note found in this book is of interest but it is not relevant to when this particular book was published.

Little Men and Women Series

Ebay description:  Gypsy the Talking Dog, A Story for Young Folks 1902

Gypsy The Talking Dog, A Story for Young Folks" by Tudor Jenks. Copyright 1902 by Henry Altemus. I believe this is a first edition.. .... The illustrations are in black and white and no one is credited as being the illustrator. The last few pages of this book contains an advertisement for Altemus Books. They state, "The Best and Least Expensive Books for Twentieth Century Boys and Girls." They sold their books for $1.00.

The Reality:  This book was published in the mid to early teens. The illustrations of the early editions were on glossy not plain paper. The ad in the back book was used beginning in 1912-13. Finally, the cover of the 1902 book was colored differently.

Classics Series

Ebay description:  Marmion Sir Walter Scott 1808 Pocket Book

Gorgeous little "pocket" book of the poetry of Sir Walter Scott, this is Marmion. Printed in 1808 by Henry Altemus Co. of Philadelphia, it has a wonderful embossed and gilded cover ...

The Reality:  Since Henry Altemus was not born until 1833, it is highly unlikely that the company he founded published this book 25 years before he was born. Actually this book is part of the Classics (Series #69) or the Slip in the Pocket Classics Series (#166)- which it changed its name to in 1909. These series were published between 1907 and 1921. The back ads as well as the jacket or box style would help in telling what year this book was printed in.