Expert: Cary Sternick - 8/12/2007

Question
QUESTION: I just found a book entitled "The Little Small Red Hen" that was published by the Henry Altemus Company. I know that it was published in the 1900's, because it says "The Henry Altemus Company" at the bottom of the Title Page. I was wondering if you could give me the exact date that it was published. One weird thing that I noticed was that it didn't have the author's name on it (even though I know that it was written by Beatrix Potter). I would also like to know the value of it. Thank you for your time!

ANSWER: Hello. In order to determine more info about your book I will need to know more about the book. Cover design, endpaper info, back ads listing. A picture helps. cary-css3@mac.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Again. Here is some more info to add to my first question so that you can answer it:
1. The front of the back page is an add for the Altemus Peter Rabbit Series (it notes that it is 50 cents a volume)
2. The back of the back page is an ad for Wee Books For Wee Folks. It lists a lot of other books(also 50 cents a volume).
3. On the title page it notes that it has 26 illustrations.
4. It has no author's name on it anywhere
5. It does not have a "dust cover", but whether it originally had one or not I do not know.
6. On the front of the book, it is gray with black illustrations but there is a full color picture of a hen with a fox on the right side of the book.
7. The book has red binding.
8. All of the text in the book is black.
9. The book is about 10 and a half inches across and 14 inches up and down. Very small.
10. It has full color illustrations.

I hope this info helps! If it doesn't, I may be able to e-mail you a picture.
ANSWER: Hi. Thanks for the info. The key in dating the book will be in the ads. What is the last title listed in the Peter Rabbit Series. What is the last book listed in the Wee Books for Wee Folks list. Do the endpapers have a bunch of kids frolicking around? If so, what color are they? Or are the endpapers plain. Are you sure about the dimensions? That would be a very big book.Cary
css3@mac.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: 1. The last title listed in the Peter Rabbit Series Page is Peter Rabbit's Christmas.
2. The last title listed in the Wee books for Wee Folks list is Wee Folks Life of Christ.
3. The endpapers are plain.
4. Oops! The dimensions I gave you were inches. It is correct except that it is centimeters!

I e-mailed you pictures too. I hope that this helps!

Answer
Hi. Your book which originally came with a dust jacket was published in 1920.The books listed in the ads were published just before the 1921 books. The endpapers were plain until the end of 1921. Unfortunately this book is quite common without its jacket and probably would bring only nominal money. Cary