[Rarebooks] FS - Icelandic rarities

[GREENFIELD BOOKS]

1.    *HJORLEIFSSON, Einar [and] Maria Johanndsdottir. /VESTURFOR. 
FERDAPISTLAR [bound together with] SYSTURNAR FRA GRAENADAL/*/./ 1908 and 
1909. 1st edition, 12mo, pp. 200, 119. The Hjorleifsson text was 
published in Akureyri in 1909 and the Johannsdottir text was published 
in Reykjavik in 1908. The text is in Icelandic

Einar Hjorleifsson Kvaran was born in Iceland in 1859 and given the name 
Einar Hjorleifsson. He changed his surname to Kvaran in 1916. He was an 
Icelandic editor, novelist, poet and playwright. Besides editing 
Icelandic language publications in Winnipeg, Kvaran was also an editor 
in both Reykjavik and Akureyri (Iceland's second largest city). He wrote 
numerous short stories, novels, plays and poems. In 1913, the Icelandic 
Government granted Kvaran a pension to allow him to devote himself 
full-time to writing. In 1923, a poll revealed that he was the most 
popular writer in Iceland. He died in Reykjavik in 1938. The title of 
this book - "Vesturfor" - means "west", or "westwards" and appears to be 
an account of the author's travels from Iceland to Winnipeg. A scarce 
item: no copies presently for sale on the internet, or listed on 
WorldCat. One copy was found in GBV (Northern Germany Union Catalog). No 
copies found in BibliotekDK (Danish Libraries). The Johannsdottir title 
appears to be a novel. We could discovery nothing definate about this 
author. Our copy of this book is bound in blue cloth over marbled boards 
with no lettering to the spine. The binding is worn and soiled but still 
serviceable. The contents are stressed at the middle and the top half of 
pages 85/86 has been torn away. Some smudging to other pages, and a few 
early repairs to small marginal tears to preliminary pages. Name to 
front free endpaper. Not a perfect copy, but in good condition 
notwithstanding.

Price: $100.00.


2.    *SIGURJONSS/ON, /Johann./ GALDRA-LOFTUR Leikrit 1 Premur Pattum. 
/*Porsteinn Gislason, Reykjavik, Iceland. 1915, 12mo, pp. 133.

Sigurjonsson (1880-1919) was born in Laxamyri, Iceland and, like most 
Icelanders at the time, was educated at the University of Copenhagen, 
where he was influenced by the the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche. He 
wrote in both Icelandic and Danish. He is best known for his plays 
"Fjalla-Eyvindur" ("Eyindur of the Mountain"), and "Galdra-Loftur" ("The 
Wish"), the latter telling the story of a Hamlet-like young scholar who 
uses the black arts to gain knowledge and power. This play was 
translated into English in 1939 by Eleanor Haworth and Jean Young and 
re-printed in 1967 in an anthology published by the University of 
Wisconsin Press. It is a very scarce title in its original Icelandic: no 
copies of this edition presently being shown on WorldCat. The boards of 
our copy show some soiling and wear to the edges. The binding is a bit 
sprung, but nothing is loose. A few spots to the text, but otherwise the 
book is tight and internally clean: good, to good, plus condition overall.

Price: $100.00.

3.    *EINARSSON, Indridi. /HELLISMENN. SJONLEIKUR / FIMM PATTUM [Sword 
and Crozier / A Drama in Five Acts]./* Boards scuffed and rubbed at 
edges; else good, to good plus, condition. Sig. Kristjansson, Reykjavik, 
Iceland. 1897. 1st edition,12mo, pp. 157. Name on front pastedown. Front 
free endpaper removed. A few spots to text. Else the contents are clean 
and tight.

Einarsson (1851-1939) was an Icelandic author and playwright and one of 
the founders of Iceland's national theatre. This is his most famous 
play, which was first translated into English in 1912. Copies of the 
play, in the original Icelandic, are very scarce (none being listed on 
WorldCat, although the Danish National Union Catalogue lists two copies).

Price: $125.00.


Terms of sale - payment by check or money order. Postage and packing 
charge is $7.50. Returnable within seven days of receipt if not as 
described.

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