This beautiful antique edition is in near fine condition and would make a distinguished addition to any collector’s library. The spine is bound in full leather, adorned with three gilt decorative elements, a gilt-stamped title, and gilt volume numbers, giving it a richly elegant appearance. The endpapers feature delicately patterned floral paper, and the text is printed in traditional Fraktur type. The front board edges show only slight rubbing consistent with age. Published by Goethe’s principal publishing house, J. G. Cotta’sche Buchhandlung, this set, Goethes sämtliche Werke in sechsunddreißig (36) Bänden: Neu durchgesehene und ergänzte Ausgabe, mit Einleitungen von Karl Goedeke (Volumes 14–16), stands among the most esteemed editions of Goethe’s complete works. Johann Friedrich Cotta, Goethe’s longtime publisher, first issued a collected edition in 1809 and continued to refine it as the author’s literary legacy expanded. Volumes 14 to 16 include some of Goethe’s most celebrated and enduring works: • Volume 14: Götz von Berlichingen; Die Mitschuldigen; Theater und Dramatische Poesie • Volume 15: Die Leiden des jungen Werthers; Briefe aus der Schweiz (Erste Abteilung); Unterhaltungen deutscher Ausgewanderten • Volume 16: Wilhelm Meisters Lehrjahre, Erster Teil. The beautiful introductions by Karl Goedeke enrich the historical and literary context, while the refined craftsmanship—gilt tooling, quality leather binding, and decorative papers—makes this set not only a significant scholarly edition but also a visually striking centerpiece for any collector’s bookshelf. Published circa 1895 or earlier, this edition holds considerable value by virtue of its age alone, representing a distinguished artifact from Goethe’s original publisher and a testament to 19th-century bookmaking at its finest. *This copy is also available to international customers through AbeBooks.com, as Kathrin’s Books currently ships within Canada only.*