Michael Stettler met Stefan George when he was eighteen years-old after George received some samples of his poetry (Norton 719). Stettler, too, became enthralled by the poet and earned his master's esteem. Later in life, Stettler became a renown scholar of George's work, writing many of the pieces within this collection. Many of the books included in this collection actually bare his signature and a friendly note. In his life, he became friends with Elisabeth Sommer, the grandmother of the man who gave me this collection. The friendship between Stettler and Elisabeth Sommer is integral in the story of how this collection was cultivated.