E. T. A. Hoffmanns sämtliche Werke: in fünfzehn Bänden : mit drei Selbst ..

Published by Max Hesse in Leipzig in 1872, this fifteen-volume set of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s complete works arrived during a mid-19th-century German literary revival that sought to standardize the legacy of the Romantic era. As a prominent figure of the German fantastic and gothic tradition, Hoffmann’s stories—ranging from 'The Sandman' to 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King'—were being increasingly re-evaluated by scholars and the general public, moving from niche literary curiosities to foundational texts of the national canon.

The production by M. Hesse reflects the era's focus on affordable yet comprehensive literary sets for the educated middle-class home library. By assembling these works into a multi-volume collection, the publisher aimed to provide a definitive, accessible reference that captured the full scope of Hoffmann’s imaginative, often surreal output. The aesthetic of the edition, characterized by the traditional cloth bindings and modest typography of the period, mirrored the scholarly earnestness of 1870s book manufacturing, which prioritized durability and a respectable appearance on the shelves of the bourgeoisie.