Acta Archaeologica, Volume I-XX by Boethius, Axel, et al., eds.; J. Brondsted, General Editor

Kobenhavn: Levin & Munksgaard. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 4to 11" - 13" tall. Massively heavy, oversized volumes, 65+ pounds overall, so prepare for additional postage costs. Acta Archaeologica, Volume I-XX, a Near Fine condition set of the first 20 volumes, consecutive, of the influential Denmark-based journal published in Kobenhavn, Denmark by Levin & Munksgaard, devoted to archaeology, ethnology and ethnography, mostly but not wholly devoted to Northern Europe. Not ex-library, with neither highlighting nor underlining. Sturdily bound in rust-colored cloth over boards format, with decorated, marbled paper over boards, not ex-library, one bookplate, but no marginal notes. Spine heads and feet bumped slightly, only very minor wear to tips, edges, extremities, minor dust soiling to edges, and they look most handsome on the shelf. Mostly English language contributions and those also in French and Italian and German, and with only a few in Danish or Swedish.Exceedingly scarce in the trade, there being only large, hideously expensive runs and odd volumes here and there, not typically of these first 20 volumes. Acta Archaeologica was founded in 1930 and soon became the leading scientific international archaeological periodical in Scandinavia, covering the North Atlantic, the Mediterranean, Near Eastern archaeology, and some works of social history and literature as excavated. Acta Archaeologica is published annually, and each volume consists of 200 to 250 large pages, beautifully illustrated with fine black-and-white illustrations and photographs, and all the photographic plates are printed on fine, high-gloss paper. Double-column text. The papers are in English, German, French, or Italian, the journal is well-edited, and it remains of lasting value. Acta Archaeologica covers the archaeology of Scandinavia and Northern Europe until roughly the late Medieval period but with a mind to situating Northern Europe in its wider continental context. Contributions from arctic, maritime and other branches of archaeology, as well as from other continents, are included. The inaugural volume’s title page shows that the General Editor was J. Brondstedt, and that there was an editorial board headed by Axel Boethius, in Rome, A.W. Brogger in Oslo, J. Brondsted in Copenhagen, K. Friis Johansen in Copenhagen, Sune Lindqvist, Uppsala, C.A. Nordman, Helsingfors, Poul Norlund, Copenhaven, Haakon Shetelig, Bergen and Bent Thordeman, Stockholm. That editorial board stayed remarkably stable over the years.This inaugural run is comprised of the following volumes: Acta Archaeologica, Volume I, 1930, featuring 20 chapters, Table of Contents arranged alphabetically by last name of author, and a Prefatory Note in English, written by the editorial board, noting that “Acta Archaeologica, of which this is the first number, is an archaeological journal that has been started by means of cooperation of northern scientists and will be supported and maintained by the whole great fellowship of northern archaeology” (pp. 10-11). English language chapter by Harald Inghold, “The Oldest Known Grave-Relief From Palmyra,” and 22 fine black-and-white plates, all present, and several score more black-and-white illustrations. 302 pp., including a full index to Volume I. Acta Archaeologica, Volume II, 1931, featuring 18 chapters, 16 fine black-and-white plates, several score black-and-white illustrations, and then contributions by T.J. Arne, H.C. Broholm, Anders Bugge, Gutorm Gjessing, Sigurd Grieg, Rune Norberg, Marten Stenberger, and others, about Eskimo archaeology, Bronze-age hoards in Norway, Viking ships, and Iron-age housing. 314 pp., including a full index and errata sheet. Acta Archaeologica, Volume III, 1932, featuring 17 chapters, including about glass vessels, the First Incorporation of Gotland under the Svea Kingdom, the earliest Echternach Manuscripts, the early history of the sickle, and bas-relief art at Phidias. 298 pp., including a full and complete index to Volume III, and XIV black-and-white plates and several score more black-and-white illustrations. Acta Archaeologica, Volume IV, 1933, features 14 chapters, from Gudmund Hatt about enameled reliquaries, Philip Nelson, Poul Norlund, Lars-Ivar Ringbom, Bengt Thordemen on the Asiatic splint armour in Europe, and others, with 271 pp., including full and complete index to Volume IV. Acta Archaeologica, Volume V, 1934, with 16 chapters in German and English, including about military helmets from the Vendel-Time, the Lapp Ribbon Ornament, archaeological dating in the history of North Jutland’s Vegetation, a 12-century “Lily” from Liverpool, the Etruscan city gates in Perugia, flint saws in Sweden, and others. 16 fine black-and-white plates and 64 additional illustrations in black-and-white. 310 pp. including full index to Volume V. Acta Archaeologica, Volume VI, 1935, featuring 14 chapters including that by T.J. Arne, “The Swedish Archaeological Expedition to Iran 1932-1933,” Anders Bugge, “The Origin, Development and Decline of the Norwegian Stave Church,” an article, “Blubber Lamps in the Ertebolle Culture?” by Therkel Mathiassen, and a Summary of Archaeological Investigations and Finds in the Scandinavian Countries in the year 1934. 294 pp., and with seven fine black-and-white plates and several score more illustrations, ranging from archaeological plans and drawings to potsherds to human skeletons. 294 pp., including full index. Acta Archaeologica, Volume VII, 1936, contains 13 chapters, including that by Johannes Brondsted, “Danish Inhumation Graves of the Viking Age: a Survey,” J. Prip-Moller, “On the Wall of the Jupiter Temple, Capitol,” and “North West European Plough-types of Prehistoric Times and the Middle Ages,” by Axel Steensberg. 351 pp. and including 11 fine black-and-white plates printed on high-gloss paper and with lots more black-and-white illustrations. Acta Archaeologica, Volume VIII, 1937, has 14 chapters, including “Sulla’s Dream,” by Niels Breitenstein and Erik Westerby’s “A Zealand Maglemose Site with Potsherds,” and an update on Archaeological Investigations and Finds in the Scandinavian Countries in the year 1936. 346 pp., and including a full index. One full-page plate, but several score other fine black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Acta Archaeologica, Volume IX-X, 1938-1939, also has 14 chapters, including two chapters by Therkel Mathiassen, “Some recently found Reindeer Antler Implements in Denmark,” and “Some unusual Dnaish harpoons,” Philip Nelson’s “A Thirteenth Century Bronze Horse’s Head.” 254 pp. including full index. Three full-page black-and-white plates and dozens of fine black-and-white illustrations and photographs. One signature has pulled out but is present. Acta Archaeologica, Volume XI, 1940, contains 11 chapters, including one by the General Editor, Johannes Brondsted, “Human Figures on a Danish Mesolithic Ursus Bone,” two chapters by Jhalmar Larsen, “Tomb Six at Maassara: an Egyptian Second Dynasty Tomb,” and “Three Shaft Tombs with Chambers at Maassara, Egypt,” then additional chapters, all in German language. With this volume is debuted a new look in terms of the decorated paper over boards. 230 pp., seven plates, all present, and several score fine black-and-white illustrations and photographs. Acta Archaeologica, Volume XII, 1941, is slender at nine chapters, and features articles in English, French and German, including “Danish Arm-and-Hand Carvings," by the General Editor, Johannes Brondstedt, “”Two New Danish Implements of Reindeer Antler” by Therkel Mathiassen,” “Nemi Studies” by Frederik Poulsen,” “Notes on Etruscan Architectural Terracottas,” by P.J. Rus, and J. Troels-Smith’s “Geological Dating of a Reindeer Antler Hammer from Vedbaek.” 185 pp. plus an additional seven maps, fold-out, unopened, several dozen black-and-white photographs and three full-page black-and-white plates.Acta Archaeologica, Volume XIII, 1942, is dedicated to a pioneer in the field of Swedish archaeology, Christiano Blinkenberg, 1864-1943, and features 20 chapters, including Sigurd Grieg’s “The House in Norwegian Archaeology,” Sune Lindqvist’s “The Boat Models from Roos Carr,” and Carl Nordenfalk’s “Easter Style Elements in the Book of Lindisfarne.” 382 pp., and with a single plate and several dozen black-and-white photographs. Acta Archaeologica, Volume XIV-XV, 1943-1944, bound together, featuring seven chapters and then a full index to Volume XIV. W. Schwarbacher contributes “Illyro-Paeonian Silver Coins in the Royal Collection,” the only English-language contribution, but five additional, lengthy chapters. A stiff carboard plate separates the index to Volume XIV and the beginning of Volume XV, 1944, with nine additional chapters and a full index, mostly chapters in English, including “The Inhabitants of Denmark in the Bronze Age: corrections and supplements,” by H.C. Broholm, “Bronze Paterae with Anthropolomorphous Handles,” by Mogens Gjodesen, and Egil Lindsten’s “A Runnel Stone From the Tomb of Atreus.” 217 pp., including full index, and several dozen fine black-and-white photographs and illustrations.Acta Archaeologica, Volume XVI, 1945, features a fine bookplate from N.E. Norlund pasted at first free endpaper, leading to some waffling, and then 11 chapters and a full index. Contributions by C.J. Becker, “New Finds of Hafted Neolithic Celts,” “Haakon Shetelig’s “The Viking Graves in Great Britain and Ireland,” Niels Breitenstein, “Analecta Acragantina,” and Frederik Poulsen’s “Talking, Weeping and Bleeding Sculptures: a chapter of the history of religious fraud.” Double-columned text and dozens of fine black-and-white illustrations and photographs. 238 pp. Acta Archaeologica, Volume XVII-XVIII, 1946-1947, is published together, featuring “Ancient Textile Techniques in Egypt and Scandinavia: a comparative study” (by Margrethe Hald), “”Another Blade Handle of Reindeer Antler” (Viggo Nielsen), “ and H. Norling-Christensen’s “The Vikso Helmets: a Bronze-age votive find from Zealand,” among others. XI fine black-and-white plates, dozens of other fine illustrations and photographs. Volume XVIII has nine chapters, all but one being in English, including “Anthropolomorphic Bronze Age Figures in Denmark,” by H.C. Broholm, “The Stenmagle Rune Box and the Golden Horn Inscription,” by Anders Baeksted, and “Before the Book of Durrow,” by Carl Nordenfalk. 217 pp. including full index, four fine black-and-white plates, and then dozens more black-and-white photographs and illustrations.Acta Archaeologica, Volume XIX, 1948, features seven chapters, including by C.J. Becker (“Die Zeitliche Stellung des Jhorspring-Fundes innerhalb der vorromischen Eisenzeit in Danemark”), “The Norse Style of Ornamentation in the Viking Settlements,” by Haakon Shetfelig, and others. 282 pp., including a full index. Four black-and-white plates, all being fold-out illustrations, seemingly never touched, and then several score other fine black-and-white illustrations and photographs.Acta Archaeologica, Volume XX, 1949, features five chapters, including C.J. Becker’s “Hafted Neolithic Celts II. With observations on a new funnel-beaker type from Zealand,” “The First Bronze Vases to be made in Central Europe,” by V. Gordon Child, and Ole Klindt-Jensen’s “Foreign Influences in Denmark’s Early Iron Age.” 282 pp., including a full index. Dozens of fine black-and-white plates.Member, I.O.B.A., C.B.A., and adherent to the highest ethical standards. Additional postage may be required for oversize or especially heavy volumes, and for sets.