A research project on post-medieval Icelandic manuscripts and books
Welcome to the first blog of our research project "Paper Trails: Material History of 16th and 17th Century Icelandic Books from Paper Production to Library Collection", funded by the Icelandic Research Fund for three years under the grant number 184961-051.
About the project
In this research project we will analyse the paths of paper from its production in the 16th and 17th centuries through its development into Icelandic manuscripts and books to the present repositories in Iceland and abroad.
The project can be divided into three parts:
One part is about the provenance and trade history of paper that was used for Icelandic manuscripts and charters in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Another part focuses on establishing (or refuting) patronage of manuscripts that were or are believed to be commissioned by members of the Vatnsfjörður-family.
The third part traces the ownership and trade history of Icelandic manuscripts and books that Sir Joseph Banks and Heinrich Erkes acquired.
Paper History and Watermarks
Paper came already in the fifteenth century to Iceland and surplanted parchment in the sixteenth century. It had to be imported, though, as there were no paper mills in the country. A well-known method to determine the origin of paper is to analyse watermarks. In this project we will analyse the watermarks of manuscripts from the sixteenth century, of folio-manuscripts from the seventeenth century and of diplomas of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries by using backlighting and infrared/thermographic cameras.
We are also interested in the ways that paper was purchased. Who were the people that imported and sold paper in Iceland? Did officials and private citizens order or buy from the same merchants? To find out more about that, we will analyse official and private correspondence, biographical information, trade documents, tax information, etc.
For more information, click here.
Manuscripts of the Vatnsfjörður-Family
The Westfjords were an important area in seventeenth-century Icelandic manuscript culture. The family of Séra Jón Arason í Vatnsfirði played a particularly significant role, and there are a great number of manuscript connected to the various family members, both male and female.
Their affiliation with manuscripts is in some cases certain, alas, in others it is not. By comparing watermarks of manuscripts with certain affiliation to watermarks of manuscripts with uncertain affiliation we hope to bring further light into the provenance and history of these manuscripts.
For more information, click here.
Book History and Book Bindings
The largest repositories of Icelandic books and manuscripts are the two Arnamagnæan collections in Reykjavík and Copenhagen, as well as the Landsbókasafn – Háskólabókasafn Íslands in Reykjavík. Outside of Iceland we find quite substantial collections, though, too, such as the collections founded by the British botanist Sir Joseph Banks (1743-1820) and by the German merchant Heinrich Erkes (1864-1932). Today their collections are part of the British Library in London and the University Library in Cologne.
Our focus is on the transmission of these books and manuscripts. Who owned them, who bound them, who sold them, what aspects influenced the acquisition and circulation of them? Were there specific parameters and motivations to build up such special and specific collections? To answer these questions, we will analyse marks of ownership, bindings and later additions to bindings, correspondence, biographical information, trade documents, etc.
To read more about this part of the project, click here.
Our theoretical background is deeply rooted in material philology, object biography and paper history. Our aim is to contribute to manuscript and book history, history of collections, social and economic history and material philology.
Icelandic National Day
We believe that today, when we celebrate the Icelandic National Day, is a fitting day to start the website and twitter-account of our project. It is the birthday of Jón Sigurðsson (1811-1879), who is most famous for his paramount role in Iceland's way to independence. However, he was also a scholar and led for some time Hið íslenzka bókmenntafélag, The Icelandic Literary Society, as their president. He was furthermore employed at the Arnamagnæan Institute in Copenhagen, the sister institute of The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies, where our project is housed. And most importantly, he was an avid collector of Icelandic manuscripts: His collection is today housed at Landsbókasafn, The National and University Library of Iceland, with the shelf mark "JS".
We hope that you enjoy this introduction to our research project on post-medieval Icelandic manuscripts and books and that you will continue to follow us. You can also follow us on twitter!
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