Árbók Landsbókasafns Íslands - Nýr flokkur - 01.07.1992, Page 109

ENGLISH SUMMARY
Erik Petersen: Vínlandsferð Flateyjarbókar. Landsbókasafn Íslands. Árbók. Nýr
flokkur 17 (1991). Rv. 1992, pp. 5-25.'
Late in 1892 the USA requested the loan from Denmark of Codex Flateyensis in
the Royal Library, famous i.a. for its accounts of the discovery of Wineland by the
Norsemen. The ms. was to form part of an exhibition commemorating the
discovery of America by Columbus at the World’s Columbian Exposition in
Chicago in 1893. The Danish government decided, on certain conditions, to
accede to the request, in spite of the protests of the director of the RL and
academic authorities. The question became a matter of public interest and gave
rise to discussions in newspapers and journals in Denmark, Norway and even
England.
The Codex Flateyensis is historically related, in various ways, to Iceland, Norway,
Greenland, the Faroe Islands, America and Denmark. Some participants in the
debate saw the ms. as an object of merely academic interest, and emphasised the
dangers of the voyage and of being on display in America. By others the loan of
the ms. was seen as an opportunity to assert Denmark’s international reputation.
No reference was made to the responsibilities of a holder of a literary and
historical document that transcends national boundaries.
The decision was also debated in parliament, but the government maintained
its stand. It was, therefore, perturbing news for the government when it was
disclosed that the Americans were not willing to accept Danish lending require-
ments. Thus the ms. remained in the RL — until it wasbrought to Iceland in 1971
together with Codex Regius on board a warship provided by the Danish govern-
ment. They were the first two manuscripts to be delivered after the big case on
the delivery of manuscripts to Iceland had been finally settled.
At the beginning of the discussions about the loan of Codex Flateyensis to
Chicago in 1893 one spoke of “a book’s tour of triumph”. Judging from the
reception Codex Flateyensis (and Codex Regius) got in Iceland in 1971 it proved to be
a real “tour of triumph”.
Finnbogi Guðmundsson: Nu gaar den ud med Flag i Stavnen —. Landsbókasafn
íslands. Árbók. Nýrflokkur 17 (1991). Rv. 1992, pp. 26-27.
A picture showing the Icelanders welcoming the arrival of Flateyjarbók and
the Codex Regius in 1971. The scene reminds one of the prophetic words written
by the Danish publisher Ejnar Munksgaard in the copy of his facsimile edition of
Flateyjarbók he sent to his friend, Guðmundur Finnbogason, in 1930.