Goethes Werke, IV. Abtheilung, 16. Band

This volume belongs to the Weimarer Ausgabe, also known as the Sophien-Ausgabe, the definitive historical-critical edition of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's complete works. Commissioned by Grand Duchess Sophie of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach in 1885, the project was designed to be the comprehensive scholarly authority on the author's legacy. The IV. Abtheilung, or fourth division, is dedicated specifically to Goethe’s extensive correspondence, serving as a cornerstone for literary historians and researchers mapping the intellectual networks of the 18th and 19th centuries.

The editorial rigor of this collection was overseen by a team of elite German scholars, including Bernhard Suphan, who ensured that the texts were curated with unprecedented philological precision. The design reflects the austere, academic aesthetic of late 19th-century German publishing, prioritizing legibility and preservation of the original manuscripts. Upon its release, it was immediately recognized as the gold standard for Goethe studies, remaining the primary reference point for scholars worldwide despite the immense logistical challenge of organizing such a vast collection of letters.