Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - Pages ...
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
676 VON TROIL’S LETTERS ON ICELAND.
his death in 1507, when at a very advanced age. Befides feveral other children he
left a fon whofe name was John, who was a printer there in the time of bifhop Guth-
randr: he was fucceeded in the printing-office by his fon Brandur. John Bradtfon,
fon of the latter, died in an advanced age in’1681, as provoft of Hytarnas. His fon
John Jonfon, a clergyman, died in the fame place in 1732. ‘This whole family is now
reduced to poverty.
The printing-ofice was immediately eftablifhed ; and in 1531 John Mathieffon
printed the firft book in Iceland, which was the Breviarium Nidarofienfe. There was
likewife an edition of this book printed at Dronthiem, the editor of which was arch-
bifhop Erick Walkendorf, which is now very {fcarce. 1 do not remember to have feen
this edition mentioned any where, except in the twenty-eighth number of the Danifh
Magazine, where a copy of it is faid to be in the library of Mr. Klevenfeldt. But in
regard to the Icelandic edition, it is generally believed that not a fingle copy of it re-
mains, fince the only one I ever heard of was in Arnas Magnaei’s library, which was
confumed in the fire at Copenhagen in 1728.
Befides the Breviarium Nidarofienfe, he printed the Handbok Pra/ta (an ecclefiaftical
manual), Luther’s Catechifm, and other books of the fame fort. Printing however
did not go on very well till 1574, when bifhop Guthrandr Thorlakfon ordered new
types to be brought thither ; whereupon, amongft other books, the Icelandic bible ap-
peared in print in folio, in the year 1584. ‘The printing-office was at this period fo
well provided with types, that two prefles were employed, exclufive of thofe at Hoolum,
where feveral books were printed and publifhed about that time. The Icelandic code
of laws was printed in 1578, at Nupufell, twelve miles from Hoolum, as likewife the
Viti Theodori Summaria in 1589.
The printing-office at Hoolum was taken from Thord Thorlakfon in 1685, and
transferred to Skallholt, where one-and-forty different books were printed : the firft of
which was Paradyfar Lykell, likewife Forfadra Bok in 1686 ; and the laft, Boenabok
Sira Thordar Bardarfonar Med Vika Saung Olearii. utl. af Sira Steines, in 1697. But
in the beginning of this century, the printing-oflice was again removed to Hoolum, after
bifhop Bjorn Thorleiflon had bought it, together with the privileges granted to it, for
five hundred dollars ; and the firft book publifhed on the revival of printing at this place,
was the Paraphrafis Medit. Dr. John Gerhardi, 1703. Since this time, fome hiftorical
books, among which I will mention the Life of Guftavus Landkrona, publifhed at
Hoolum, in 8vo. 1756, tranflated from the Swedifh into the Icelandic language, have
always been publifhed here ; the greateft part of them however are religious books. A
new privileged printing-office has likewife lately been eftablifhed at Hrappfey, by Olafr
Olffen, where feverai valuable books have already been printed.
A lift of Icelandic books might perhaps not be improper in this place ; but as I am
unable to furnifh you with a complete one, I did not think it worth while to fend youa
catalogue of about three hundred that I am acquainted with ; of which number, how-
ever, Iam happy to have upwards of one hundred now in my library.
LETTER XVI.—tTo cHEVALIER IHRE.
Of the Remains of Antiquity in Iceland.
DEAR SIR, Stockholm, December 21, 1774.
How infinitely happy fhould I be, were I able to fatisfy your curiofity in refpeéct to
the great number of remarkable and ancient monuments with which Iceland is fuppofed
I to
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
