The Works of Henrik Ibsen.

Jefferson Press, Boston/New York, 1911

Finely bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.

Description: 12 vols. bound in 6, bound in red quarter morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, with five raised bands, gilt lettering and decoration to spines, matching marbled endpapers. Octavo: 21 × 15 cm; pp. (vol.1–2) 484; 393; (vol.3–4) 305; 329; (vol.5–6) 537; 356; (vol.7–8) 487; 413; (vol.9–10) 489; 465; (vol.11–12) 438; 528. Top edges gilt.

Condition: Covers show very small abrasions in places, otherwise in excellent condition. Internally entirely clean, fresh, and bright. An amazingly well-preserved copy.

Notes: This edition was created using the ‘subscription book’ business model, which was commonplace in the complex early 20th-century landscape of copyright and plate-sharing. Based in Boston, the Jefferson Press primarily operated as a provider of fine library editions. Instead of commissioning new translations, the Jefferson Press entered into an agreement with Charles Scribner’s Sons to use the plates from the prestigious ‘Viking Edition’ (1906–1912). This was a common practice that allowed smaller, specialised presses to offer ‘de luxe’ editions of major works without incurring the prohibitive cost of typesetting. Although modern directors and scholars often favour more contemporary, colloquial translations, the Archer/Jefferson edition remains the bedrock of historical Ibsen studies in English.

Please note: The high shipping costs are due to the very heavy weight of the books (6,5 kg) and/or the size of the packaging.