Gripla - 20.12.2014, Page 219

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design resembling that of printed books.64 since js 208 8vo, and probably
Lbs 1724 8vo, were written before the first edition of Hljómi raustin barna
best was printed, the scribes could not have used the printed version as a
template.65 they were nonetheless clearly acquainted with the design of
printed books and used this style as a general model for their page design.
Both manuscripts feature the following design components that resemble
printed books and hence the characteristics of the first printed edition, too
(see plate 2):66
i) A header at the top of the page with pagination and running title,
a horizontal line separating it from the text block.67 the page’s
running title rubric reads as follows: JS 208 8vo: fol. 13v/14v
“Daglegur”, on recto pages “Psalmur.”68 Lbs 1724 8vo: fol. 70v
“umm Dömsdag,” fol. 71r “og eilÿft lȳf”.69 thus, in the first
manuscript the running title explains in which section the hymn
appears, and in the second manuscript, the condensed title of the
hymn is displayed.
ii) Both manuscripts use bold Roman numerals to number the
hymns.70
iii) Below the text, the collation is noted down with a letter and cipher
(only recto).71 though both manuscripts are defective and indicate
64 the ornamental initials of the illuminated manuscripts previously mentioned usually re-
semble the design of printed initials. they use lines of different width, are drawn with the
same ink as the text script and the vines are placed within a notional rectangular frame.
65 there is no precise dating for Lbs 1724 8vo, but it was probably not written much later than
js 208 8vo.
66 the first printed edition has also been digitized: Hallgrímur Pétursson, Andlegir Psalmar
og Kvæde, http://baekur.is/is/bok/000158089/Andlegir_Psalmar_og_Kvaede (acces-
sed April 1, 2014). Digitized images of JS 208 8vo and Lbs 1724 8vo are available on
Handrit.is, http://handrit.is/is/manuscript/imaging/is/JS08-0208#0000r-fB and http://
handrit.is/is/manuscript/imaging/is/Lbs08-1724#0001r (accessed April 1, 2014).
67 the scribe of JS 141 8vo (shorter version) also uses the running title “Jolapsalmar.”
68 Due to restoration work on the manuscript, with paper glued to the upper edge of the
margins, the original wording was partly deduced from the following pages.
69 By comparison, the printed edition has a running title on every page, but with different
content: “Vidbætir.”
70 Bold roman numerals also appear in two manuscripts of the shorter version (JS 386 8vo
and js 643 4to). In the printed edition no Roman numerals are included, but there is bold
script in the hymn’s rubric.
71 JS 208 8vo: B5, B6. Lbs 1724 8vo: L7, L8. Andlegir Psalmar og Kvæde: M3, M4, M5.
An ICELAnDIC CHrIStMAS HYMn