FIRST EDITION of the COMPLETE TEN VOLUME SET (BOUND IN 8 VOLS) of the comprehensive account of German history, culture and achievements up to the early 19th century. [ALL VOLUMES]: 252x215mm. [528/529-706/707-904] + [444] + [288] + [288] + [290] + [378] pages. Quarter-Leather hardcovers (a bit different for Volume 1, see below) with beige boards and brown gilt-decorated leather spines and leather corners. Covers somewhat stained and slightly scratched. Cover edges, corners, spine and spine edges all worn and/or bumped to various (but NOT severe!) degrees. Gilt spine-titles and volume numbers visible or mostly visible (except Vol.V). Frontispiece in each volume. All pages of high quality material, wavy and slightly yellowing. Age-stains in form of text mirroring to opposite page, and on corners of the pages nearest to front and rear covers. Otherwise all pages clean and intact unless noted otherwise below. [VOLUME I]: Different cover - boards are marbled brown, leather spine similar to other volumes but somewhat more decorative and less worn. Rear cover marbling quite worn. Page edges dyed in protective red. Inside somewhat more yellowing and age-stained but not severely so. [VOLUME III]: Strong bump on outer cover edge. [VOLUME VIII]: Spine top third coming loose. [SUMMARY]: A rare complete set of remarkable history books; in fair+ external condition but all intact, very well and tightly bound, and quite well-preserved inside, especially for their age.