Ritmennt - 01.01.1997, Page 165

RITMENNT
Abstracts
Ögmundur Helgason: Handritasafn Landsbóka-
safns 150 ára, 1846-1996. Ritmennt 2 (1997), pp.
9-34.
The National Library of Iceland was estab-
lished in 1818 and a manuscript collection was
established as a part of the Library in 1846. Its
history is told here from the beginning to the
present day. It has always been a separate unit
within the Library and became known as hand-
ritadeild (Department of Manuscripts) in 1962,
when the Library was divided into departments
for administrative purposes.
Steingrímur fónsson: "Núpufellsbók." Gömul,
prentuð lögbók án útgáfustaðar og árs. Ritmennt
2 (1997), pp. 35-54.
An attempt is made to find the answer to the
question as to where and when a particular edi-
tion of the Icelandic lawbook Jónsbók, lcnown as
"Núpufellsbók", was printed. It is known to
have been printed in the period 1580-1624, and a
study of Icelandic type-faces from the period, us-
ing methods developed by the German librarian
Konrad Haebler about the turn of the century,
reveals that the 3rd edition of the lawbook
("Núpufellsbók") was most probably printed at
Hólar about 1620.
Jón Ólafur ísberg: Annálar og heimildir um
Svarta dauða. Ritmennt 2 (1997), pp. 55-75.
Icelandic annals and diplomas relating to the
Black Death and their interrelationship are stu-
died. It is argued that Nýi annáll was written
largely on the initiative of Björn Þorleifsson
about the middle of the 15th century. Nýi annáll
and Gottslcálksannáll are based on contempor-
ary sources from the time of the Plague and are,
together with diplomas, the most reliable
sources on the Black Death in Iceland. The view
that information on the Plague found in the
manuscripts AM 702 4to and Lbs 157 4to was
based on contemporary evidence (now lost) is
refuted. This information is shown to be derived
from Nýi annáll through an intermediary writ-
ten by Jón Erlendsson about the middle of the
17th century known as Annála harmonía.
Hildur G. Eyþórsdóttir: íslensk bókaútgáfa í 30
ár, 1967-1996. Ritmennt 2 (1997), pp. 76-80.
This statistical summary of Icelandic
publications 1967-1996 is an independent
supplement to the statistical summary of
Icelandic publications 1887-1966, which was
published in Árbók Landsbókasafns (Yearbook
of the National Library of Iceland) 1967. The
statistics are based on information found in
Árbók Landsbókasafns, íslensk bókaskrá (The
Icelandic National Bibliography), and Gegnir,
the automated library system of the National
and University Library of Iceland.
Erla Hulda Halldórsdóttir: Anna Sigurðardóttir
og Kvennasögusafn íslands. Ritmennt 2 (1997),
pp. 81-106.
Dr Anna Sigurðardóttir was one of the foun-
ders of the Library of Women's History in
Iceland in 1975 and its curator until her death in
1996. Her life and career were closely linked
with thc development of the library and its role,
which is to collect, catalogue and preserve
sources of women's history as well as to
encourage research. The Library of Women's
History in Iceland has now become a special unit
within the National and University Library of
Iceland.
Þorsteinn Þorsteinsson: William Morris og
Kelmscott. Ritmennt 2 (1997), pp. 107-18.
In 1996, one hundred years had passed since
the death of William Morris. On this occasion an
exhibition commemorating the life of William
Morris and his work, especially his book designs
and his interest in Iceland and Icelandic culture,
was held in the National and University Library.
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