ET DUKKEHJEM [A Dolls House]. Skuespil I Tre Akter.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original grey paper wrappers, titles printed in black to the upper cover and spine, publisher's adverts printed to the inner and outer rear cover. Half title present, as issued. A very good copy, the binding firm with some toning, small nicks and short tears at the edges. The spine is rolled with vertical creasing. Previous owner's name in black ink to the upper cover. The contents are entirely complete and clean throughout. An attractive example, seldom encountered in this original wrappers issue.

The first edition of Ibsen's Et Dukkehjem was published in Copenhagen on 4th December 1879 in an edition of 8,000 copies. Issued simultaneously in wrappers and deluxe cloth bindings of various colours, the first edition sold out within a month. Reprints of 3000 and 2500 copies followed in January and March 1880. "Ibsen's influence on the whole course of modern drama may be indicated by the inclusion of his plays in the repertoire of every avant-garde theater of his day... Ibsen's revolutionary technique has now become firmly established... As to the social message of his plays, it should be remembered that his purpose was analytic not didactic. He was concerned with the exploration of social problems rather than with moral preaching" (Printing and the Mind of Man 375).