MS in Latin on vellum, Sweden, ca. 1400-1460, 247 ff. (complete), 14x11 cm, single column, (10-11x7 cm), 20-21 lines in Gothic book script of high grade and medium quality, and 4 different rotunda Gothic book scripts of medium quality, 9 4-line penwork initials in red and blue, 2 8-line elaborate penwork initials with extensions in 2 margins in red, blue, mauve and green, incorporating birds, 3 5-line illuminated initials in gold and colours, one with a green bird, another with a flying dove as symbol of the Holy Spirit in white and yellow.

Binding: Sweden, late 15th c., blindtooled leather on wooden boards, sewn on 3 thongs, brass corner pieces and clasps.

Provenance: 1. Franciscan monastery, probably Sweden (15th c.-); 2. Johan Axel Almquist, Stockholm (1870-1950); 3. F. Zisska & R. Kistner, München, Auktion 18/I, 8.10.1991:5.

Commentary: Possibly the only complete Scandinavian illuminated medieval MS in private hands.

See also MS 1577, Calendar, Sweden, ca. 1500

MS in Swedish on paper, Sweden, first half of 16th c. (texts 1-2), additions 1569 (texts 3-6), 136 ff. (complete), 28x20 cm, single column, (23x15 cm), 25-30 lines in a calligraphic Swedish cursive, headings in Gothic book script of medium grade and quality, decorated initials throughout, usually in flourished red with brown penwork, 15 large 4- to 9-line initials in various designs, some in Armenian style, sometimes including dragons and faces, often in colours.

Binding: Sweden, 16th c., blindstamped calf of multiple roll-tooled panels, laid on later calf, sewn on 3 bands.

Context: Texts 1, 2, and 5 are also represented in MS 1586.

Provenance: 1. Rudolf Leffler, Göteborg (19th c.); 2. Hans Ludvig Forssell, Uppsala (1843-1901); 3. H. Ericson Stevens, Småland; 4. Mrs. Ericson, Stockholm (-1992); 5. Sotheby's 23.6.1992:65.

Commentary: C.J. Schlyter: Corpus Iuris Sveo-Gotorum Antiqui, vol. XII, Lund 1869, p. 62, no. 122. The only law code MS in Swedish language in private hands from before the reformation.

See also MS 1568 Calendar. Sweden, 1540

MS in Swedish on paper, Sweden, ca. 1600, 218 ff. (complete), 32x19 cm, single column, (28x13 cm), 35-41 lines in Swedish cursive script by 2 scribes.

Binding: Sweden, ca. 1600, brown calf, with blindstamped panels in renaissance design, sewn on 4 cords.

Provenance: 1. Björck & Börjesson, Stockholm, Cat. 536(1993):68.

Commentary: Olavus's original MS from ca. 1540-50 is lost. The present MS is Olavus's most noteworthy work, not only by its literary style, but also by the critical method surpassing that of any previous chronicler. The work was not published until 1818.

See also MS 2308, A. Boström: Lärobok för mindre practiserade Sjömän. Sweden, 1832-1835 (Link to 24.13.6)

See also MS 2309, Skeppsbyggeri. Sweden, ca. 1850

MS and printed text (text 2) in Swedish and German (text 2) on paper, Fryken, Sweden, 1903-1921 and1927 (text 2), 17 pp., 36x23 cm, single column, (34x20 cm), 34 lines in cursive script, autograph, signed. Text 2: 24 ff.

Provenance: 1. Selma Lagerlöf, Fryken (-1927); 2. Buchdruckerei B. Heller, München (1927) (text 2); 3. Helga Kernsbak (1927) (text 2); 4. Bjørn Hansson, Oslo (-1995); 5. Arild and Morten Hansson, Oppegård and Hop, Norway.

Commentary: Selma Lagerlöf (1858-1940), Swedish author. She received the Nobel prize in 1909. This legend was published in one of her 3 collection of legends, 1904, 1908, or 1915-21 (2 vols.).

MS in Dutch on paper, Greenland, 1710, 22ff. incl. 10 blanks, 21x17 cm, single column (19x15 cm), 20-35 lines in cursive script, autograph.

Binding: Netherlands, 1710, marbled paper covers, sewn on 3 cords.

Provenance: 1. Captain Dirk Jacobsz Tayses, Netherlands (1710-); 2. G.J. Honig, Zaandijk, Netherlands; 3. Damms Antikvariat, Cat. 665 (Dec. 2004):577.

Commentary: Logbook of sailing ship, den Dam, during its whaling expedition to North East coast of Greenland, April- September 1710, from Belgica Bank at Jakelsbugten (78 degrees 30 min. N) as northernmost point, via Store Koldewey, Wollaston Forland, Shannon, Foster Bugt, Geographical Society Islands, Scoresby Sund, Volquart Boons Kyst, Blosseville Kyst and to Kap Gustav Holm at 66 degres 51 min. where the logbook breaks off, and the ship probably was abandoned after having passed through 7 storms, nearly being screwed down by the ice and grounded.

MS in Danish and Latin on paper, Denmark, 18th c., 74 ff. (-ca. 5), 16x10 cm, single column, (16x9 cm), 20-29 lines in Danish cursive script, runes, symbols, artificial script and formulas.

Binding: Denmark, 18th c., sheepskin with wrap around thong, sewn on 3 cords.

Provenance: 1. Sygehjem, Denmark (1896); 2. Politikens antikvariat, København.

MS in Danish on paper, Denmark, 12 November 1868, 1 f., 12x19 cm, single column, (11x17 cm), 9 lines in cursive script, autograph, signed.

Provenance: 1. Hans Christian Andersen, Denmark (1868); 2. Israel Melchior, Denmark (1868-); 3. Bruun Rasmussen auktion 646, cat. 21.4.1998:1394.

Commentary: Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875) Danish author, famous especially of his fairytales. Gift to the Melchiors on the occation of their son, William's death 8 November 1868. Melchior were Andersen's benefactor when he was young and poor.

See also MS 2256, Thit Jensen: Pigen, der gik ind i en bog. Denmark, ca. 1903

MS in Danish on paper, København, Denmark, 1923, 49 pp., 21x18 cm, single column, (20x16 cm), 22 lines in cursive script, autograph, signed 3 times.

Provenance: 1. Georg Brandes, København, Denmark (1923-1927); 2. Bjørn Hansson, Oslo (-1995); 3. Arild and Morten Hansson, Oppegård and Hop, Norway.

Commentary: Georg Brandes (1842-1927), Danish author. Unpublished.

MS in Latin on vellum, Finland, 1st half of 15th c., 2 ff., 56x31 cm, 2 columns, (32x24 cm), 33 lines in Gothic book script of high grade and quality, headings in red, square neumes on a 4-line red staff, 1-to-3-line initials in red, blue or brown.

Context: The cover of the first Swedish printed edition of any law text: "Uplands laghen", Stockholm, Andreas Gutterwitz, 1607.

Provenance: 1. Dominican Monastery in Åbo, Finland (1st half of 15th c. - ca. 1550); 2. Jörenn LarrSonn W., bailiff, Borgå province, Southern Finland (1607-); 3. Gustaf Bernström, Libris Auktioner, Kat. 1974:622; 4. Björck & Börjesson, Stockholm.

Commentary: Finnish medieval MSS are rarer than even Icelandic MSS. Sir Thomas Phillipps, who had the largest MS collection ever assembled, had several Icelandic MSS, but not a single Finnish MS. Most of the surviving examples are in Helsingfors Universitätsbibliotek, all in fragments. The present MS is the only example in private hands.

MS in Latin on vellum, Iceland, 13th c., 1 f., 19x19 cm, originally 24x19 cm, single column, (15x14 cm, originally 20x14 cm) 19 lines of originally 24 in Romanesque book script of high quality, 3-line initial in red and blue.

Context: The binding of MS 2150/2.

Provenance: 1. Torris Torrisson, Iceland (before 1550); 2. Gertrud Persdottir, Iceland (before 1550); 3. Embret Olssen Røhrs, Norway (ca. 1800); 4. Cappelens Antikvariat, Oslo (ca. 1980-1985); 5. Ulf Hansen, Hønefoss (1985-1996).

MS in Icelandic on paper, Iceland, 1st half of 18th c., 144 ff. (-ca. 10), 15x10 cm, single column, (12x8 cm), 19-26 lines in Icelandic rotunda Gothic book script of medium quality and Icelandic cursive script, by several scribes.

Binding: Iceland, ca. 1700-1750, blindtooled vellum sewn on 3 cords.

Context: Texts 3 and 5 are known from MS copies in the National Library, Reykjavik. Text 7 is copied from a printed book known from an incomplete copy at the National Library (Islandica XIV, pp. 35-36).

Provenance: 1. Bruun Rasmussen auktion 646, cat. 21.4.1998:1412.

Commentary: Most of the texts 1-6 are unpublished.

MS in Icelandic on paper, Iceland, 1830, 13 ff. (-ca. 2), 16x10 cm, single column, (14x8 cm), 27-31 lines in Icelandic cursive script by Thordi Thorlakssynni, decorated titlepage.

Binding: Unbound, in a black cover.

Provenance: 1. Thordi Thorlakssynni, Skålholt, Iceland (1830-); Ragnar Fjalar Larson, Reykjavik, Iceland (-1996); 3. Damms Antikvariat, Oslo.

Commentary: Thordi Thorláksynni was bishop at Skålholt.

MS in Icelandic on blue paper, Steinaborg, Iceland, 1861, 50 ff. (complete), 17x10 cm, single column, (15x8 cm), 25-28 lines in a rounded book script by Sigmundi Pals Sini.

Binding: Iceland, ca. 1900-1920, vellum on boards gilt, sewn on 3 cords by H.G. Svensson.

Provenance: 1. Sigmund Palsson, Steinaborg, Iceland (1861-); 2. Ragnar Asgeirsson, Iceland; 3. Einar Munksgård, Norway; 4. Lynge & Søn, København, cat. 432(1999):492.

MS in Icelandic on paper, Kollsvik, Iceland, 1861, 35 ff. (complete), 16x10 cm, single column, (14x9 cm), 19-21 lines in Icelandic cursive script.

Binding: Iceland, 1861, quarter calf gilt marbled boards,, sewn on 3 cords.

Provenance: 1. Bjarnar Bjarnasyni, Kollsvik (1861); 2. Private collection, Denmark, MS 270 (-2001); 3. Bruun Rasmussens antikvariat, København, Auktion 701, 10.10.2001:441.

Commentary: Ambrosius and Rosamunda might be a version of the romance Elis saga ok Rosamunu built on the French poem Elis de St. Gilles, translated by Abbot Robert at the time of King Håkon Håkonson. Rosamund might again derive from The Fair Rosamond (1140-1176), a mistress of Henry II of England, as she was the subject of many legends and stories. The legend that she was poisoned by Queen Eleanor first appears in the French Chronicle of London in the 14th c.