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15th-century manuscript of the 'Jónsbók', containing the laws of Iceland.

 Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.21.8.3

Scope and Contents

Manuscript, probably produced in Iceland, containing a set of Icelandic laws known as 'Jónsbók'.

The manuscript has been dated to the 14th century by Thorkelin, and to the 15th century by Þorkelsson, specifically circa 1420-1460. Ólafur Halldórsson has dated the manuscript to circa 1450. Þorkelsson has also identified this manuscript as based on an older codex of the 'Jónsbók' due to the inclusion of Icelandic court orders of 1294, 1305, and 1314, with a distinct lack of orders from later dates.

Þorkelsson has identified two contemporary hands in the manuscript, the first running from folio 1r to folio 33v, and the second from folio 34r to 107v. However, this should now be read as folio 1r to folio 36v, and from 37r to 110v, as Þorkelsson was using an old foliation which has since been superseded.

The manuscript has decorated initials in colours of blue and red with coloured penwork extending into the margins. However, most of the initials have been badly worn and have suffered a loss of colouration. Several initials have been cut out of the volume. Many of the leaves are dirty and worn, which makes some of the writing difficult to read. From folio 54 onwards the leaves become particularly fragile and have suffered a loss of text in some places, especially in the upper portions.

Headings are occasionally visible in the top margin, although most have been cropped. The laws are often numbered in the margins in a range of Arabic and Roman numerals. Later pencil inscriptions also occasionally denote the start of each new law, and occasionally note when a leaf is missing. For example, on folio 6v, 'vantar 1 blað'.

There are occasional marginal annotations relating to the text in contemporary or near-contemporary hands. Many of the leaves also bear inscriptions throughout. These are often pen trials or indecipherable annotations, and all appear to be in Icelandic.

The volume is not complete with leaves wanting in several places. There is a leaf missing at the start, as well as between folios 6 and 7, 16 and 17, 20 and 21, and 63 and 64. The manuscript is also incomplete at the end. Þorkelsson states that the manuscript is lacking the end of the 'Farmannálög' and a large part of the 'Þjófabálkr'.

Lining and ruling are occasionally visible, although this is not consistent throughout.

Two different forms of pricking can be seen for the horizontal lines throughout the work.

The front and back paste-downs both have inscriptions. At the front: '2' encircled, since erased; '6' encircled, refering to place in collection, and the current shelfmark in pencil. At the back, possibly 'Th' in pencil.

There are two sheets of loose notes in the hand of Thorkelin inserted at the front of the volume, folioated 1-4. These notes give a table of contents and detail the history and growth of the 'Jónsbók', with reference to chapters added to the 'Jónsbók' tradition after the creation of this particular manuscript.

Dates

  • Creation: 15th century.

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Normal access conditions apply.

Conditions Governing Use

Normal reproduction conditions apply, subject to any copyright restrictions.

Extent

1 Volumes ; 12.5cm x 15.8cm x 7cm

Language of Materials

Icelandic

Arrangement

i-ii + 110 + iii-iv folios.

There is a loose insert at the start of the volume of 18th-century notes. This insert has a modern library foliation, 1-4.

In the manuscript itself the modern library foliation in the top right corner has been inscribed over an older foliation which is in a different sequence.

Custodial History

The manuscript belonged to the scholar Skúli Þórðarson Thorlacius, and was donated by him to Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin, as recorded in an inscription on the verso of folio ii which reads: 'Codex Legum Islandicarum Jonsbog vulgo dictus. MSS Seculi XIV. Melioris notae. Mihi a Sculone Thorlacio Reipublic. Letterariae Ornamento summo donatus. G.F. Thorkelin.'.

The manuscript formed part of the collection of Grímur Jónsson Thorkelin and Finnur Magnússon. This manuscript was number '6' in that collection which came into the Advocates' Library. Books and manuscripts from this collection were acquired piecemeal by the Library of the Faculty of Advocates from 1812 onwards.

Thorkelin's books, and some manuscripts, were offered by W and D Laing for £300 on 22 October 1821. Magnusson sold his manuscripts to the Advocates Library for £120 on 27 May 1826.

This particular manuscript was probably acquired at some point between 1821 and 1826, and was certainly in the Library by 1830, at which time the Northern Manuscripts Catalogue was compiled by Þorleifur Guðmundsson Repp.

There are ownership inscriptions for the Library on folio 1r.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented, 1925, by the Faculty of Advocates to the nation on the foundation of the National Library of Scotland.

Existence and Location of Copies

Microfilm available: Mf.Sec.MSS.774.

Bibliography

'Catalogue of the Northern Manuscripts in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, compiled by Mr T.G. Repp, assistant in the Library, about 1830' (Unpublished manuscript, c1830). NLS Reference: FR.191, folio 7.

Halldórsson, Ó. and G. Thoroddsen. 'Jónsbók: Kong Magnus Hakonssons lovbog for Island; vedtaget paa altinget 1281 og Réttarbœtr de for Island givne Retterbøder af 1294, 1305 og 1314' (Odense, 1970), page XLVI, number 10.

'Hand-list of Northern Manuscripts in the Advocates' Library, based on the Latin Catalogue made by Mr T. G. Repp about 1830. Compiled by Miss J. M. G. Barclay in 1907' (Unpublished manuscript, 1907). NLS Reference: FR.290a, page 1, number 5.

'Katalog over islandske håndskrifter i Advocates Library í Edinburgh', Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection, Copenhagan. Reference: AM 926 4to.

Skulerud, O. 'Catalogue of Norse Manuscripts in Edinburgh, Dublin and Manchester' (Kristiania, 1918), page 2, number 6.

'Summary Catalogue of the Advocates' Manuscripts' (Edinburgh, 1971), page 110, number 1437.

Þorkelsson, J. 'Islandske håndskrifter i England og Skotland', in 'Arkiv for Nordisk Filologi' Volume 8 (1892), pages 199-237.

Physical Description

Vellum.

The binding is of 18th-century brown leather with a marble effect on the front and back boards. The boards have gold-tooled borders. The spine has extensive gold-tooled designs of foliage, rays, and vases. There is a gold-tooled title in Fraktur script which reads: 'Den Islandste Lo[v] Jon[s]bogen.'. There is a remnant of a library stamp on the tail end of the spine.

There is a green silk bookmark, still intact.

The watermark of folios i-iv has been obscured by the binding, but is possibly a crown.

Title
National Library of Scotland Catalogue of Manuscripts
Author
National Library of Scotland
Date
11 01 2016
Description rules
Finding Aid Prepared Using Local Descriptive Rules
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division Repository

Contact:
Archives and Manuscript Division
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
Edinburgh EH1 1EJ
0131 623 3700