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University College London

Icelandic Manuscripts

IDENTITY STATEMENT

Reference code(s): GB 0103 MS ICELANDIC 3

Held at: University College London

Title: Icelandic Manuscripts

Date(s): (1688), 1751-1753

Level of description: Collection (fonds)

Extent: 140 pages

Name of creator(s): Unknown

CONTEXT

Administrative/Biographical history:

Landnámabók (also called Landnáma), the Book of the Settlement: a unique Icelandic genealogical record, probably originally compiled in the early 12th century by Ari Thorgilsson the Learned, although it exists in several later versions. It lists the names of 400 original settlers of Iceland, their Norwegian origins, their descendants, and describes their landholdings with great topographical accuracy. Occasionally, anecdotes of marriages or feuds, or character sketches, are interspersed with the lists of names. The Landnámabók served as the source for many Icelandic sagas.

CONTENT

Scope and content/abstract:

Manuscript comprising four items, 1751-1753, all copies of editions printed at Skalholte in 1688:
(1) 'Landnámabók. Sagann Landnama'. 63 pages, including a preface and index, and ornamented title-page, initials, chapter headings and end pieces;
(2) 'Kristni Saga' (Christendom's saga). 21 pages, including an index and preface, and ornamented title-page and initials;
(3) Thorgilborn Ari, 'Schedae Ara Prestz frode Um Island'. 19 pages, including an index, and ornamented title-page and initials;
(4) Arrgimus Jonsson, 'Gronlandia edus Graenldz saga'. 37 pages, including ornamented title-page, initials and headings, and one illustration.
Lettered on a label on the spine: Islandske sagann.

ACCESS AND USE

Language/scripts of material: Icelandic

System of arrangement:

Conditions governing access:

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Physical characteristics:

Paper manuscript bound in vellum.

Finding aids:

List at University College London Special Collections.

ARCHIVAL INFORMATION

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:

Accruals:

Archival history:

Mocatta bookplate.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Unknown.

ALLIED MATERIALS

Existence and location of originals:

Existence and location of copies:

Related material:

Publication note:

DESCRIPTION NOTES

Note:

Archivist's note: Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica online. Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project.