GB 0103 MS ICELANDIC 6 - Edda [1760s]

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0103 MS ICELANDIC 6

Title

Edda [1760s]

Date(s)

  • [1760s] (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

1 volume containing 150 leaves

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Eggert Ólafsson: born to a farming family at Snaefellsnes, Iceland, 1726; took his bachelor's degree at the University of Copenhagen; interested in natural history and carried out a scientific and cultural survey of Iceland, 1752-1757; poet, antiquarian and advocate of Icelandic language and culture; died at sea in Breida Bay, off the northwest coast of Iceland, 1768. Publication: Reise igiennem Island (2 volumes, 1772) (Travels in Iceland).

'Edda' comprises a body of ancient Icelandic literature contained in two books, the Prose (or Younger) Edda and the Poetic (or Elder) Edda, and constitutes the fullest source for modern knowledge of Germanic mythology. The Prose Edda was written by the Icelandic chieftain, poet,and historian Snorri Sturluson, probably in 1222-1223, and is a textbook intended to instruct young poets in the metres of the early Icelandic skalds (court poets) and to provide the Christian age with an understanding of the mythological subjects referred to in early poetry. The Poetic Edda is a manuscript of the later 13th century, but containing older materials (hence the 'Elder' Edda), and contains mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, usually dramatic dialogues in a terse and archaic style, composed from the 9th to the 11th century.

Archival history

The volume contains the bookplate of Alexander, Baron Peckover of Wisbech.
GB 0103 MS ICELANDIC 6 [1760s] Collection (fonds) 1 volume containing 150 leaves Unknown
Ólafsson , Eggert , 1726-1768 , Icelandic poet and antiquarian
Eggert Ólafsson: born to a farming family at Snaefellsnes, Iceland, 1726; took his bachelor's degree at the University of Copenhagen; interested in natural history and carried out a scientific and cultural survey of Iceland, 1752-1757; poet, antiquarian and advocate of Icelandic language and culture; died at sea in Breida Bay, off the northwest coast of Iceland, 1768. Publication: Reise igiennem Island (2 volumes, 1772) (Travels in Iceland).

'Edda' comprises a body of ancient Icelandic literature contained in two books, the Prose (or Younger) Edda and the Poetic (or Elder) Edda, and constitutes the fullest source for modern knowledge of Germanic mythology. The Prose Edda was written by the Icelandic chieftain, poet,and historian Snorri Sturluson, probably in 1222-1223, and is a textbook intended to instruct young poets in the metres of the early Icelandic skalds (court poets) and to provide the Christian age with an understanding of the mythological subjects referred to in early poetry. The Poetic Edda is a manuscript of the later 13th century, but containing older materials (hence the 'Elder' Edda), and contains mythological and heroic poems of unknown authorship, usually dramatic dialogues in a terse and archaic style, composed from the 9th to the 11th century.

The volume contains the bookplate of Alexander, Baron Peckover of Wisbech.

Presented to University College London by Professor L S Penrose, grandson of Alexander, Baron Peckover of Wisbech, in 1967.

Manuscript volume [1760s]: Edda samann tekinn af Snorra Sturlasyne (selections based on the Laufäs, or prose, Edda, in an unknown hand). A pencil note on the front flyleaf records: Marginal notes by famous Icelandic poet Eggert Olafsson; written during the reign of Christian VII of Denmark.

Open.

Normal copyright restrictions apply.
Icelandic
Paper manuscript. Two hands. 20cm.

List at University College London Special Collections.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica online. Compiled by Rachel Kemsley as part of the RSLP AIM25 project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Aug 2001 Europe Iceland Ólafsson , Eggert , 1726-1768 , Icelandic poet and antiquarian x Olafsson , Eggert Mythology Northern Europe Religious history Sturluson , Snorri , 1179-1241 , Icelandic poet, historian and chieftain Western Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Presented to University College London by Professor L S Penrose, grandson of Alexander, Baron Peckover of Wisbech, in 1967.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Manuscript volume [1760s]: Edda samann tekinn af Snorra Sturlasyne (selections based on the Laufäs, or prose, Edda, in an unknown hand). A pencil note on the front flyleaf records: Marginal notes by famous Icelandic poet Eggert Olafsson; written during the reign of Christian VII of Denmark.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Open.

Conditions governing reproduction

Normal copyright restrictions apply.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

Icelandic

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

List at University College London Special Collections.

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

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Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

University College London

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area