New-York tribune., 1885-02-24
rrwv WORK DAILY TRIBUNE TUESDAY FEBRUARY "a 1854

o,,,,, ,r5 ,r,;ou;ties and another on Runic In.
.,i,t,or. nearly every edition of the ancient lce-
landc sagas rs we'll as Of the two so-calieu 0"u"''
with o great body of comment; ana lastiy' wy
ful representation of the islands modern literature
There are likewise few manuscripts. one Deins I'll
early and still unpublished translation OF LILO
"Argens," John Barclays celebrated Latin prose
romance and another still unedited collection ol
verse compiled in the sixteenth century. very com-
plete are the sets of works published by the earlier
and later Iceandic Literary Society. the Arna-
Magngan Commission, the Royal Society OF Nortn-
ern Antquaries. and other similar learned assocla-
lions Of Scandinavia The saga edition published
in Sweden during the seventeenth century, many OF
them very rare and the yet issues of the first
lcelandc presses at Hoar and Skalholt, are nearly
all here Among other things noticed she'll or
two of versions into Icelandic Of the works OF
Homer, Milton, Shakespeare Klopstock, Pope. Bun
van, the "ArablanNights" and other foreign books;
and SETS perfect to the present date, OF two Ice
landc journals published by colonies existing IN
Canada, one styled Framfari (Progressl, and the
other taking its name, Leifur, from the asserted
ante-C Columbian dscOverer of America.
One or two book -curiosites these shelves seem
to me of peculiar interest. A large-paper copy OF
the Antiquities Americane," edited by Rain, the
Copenhagen antiquary. formerly belonged to the
library OF Prince Napoleon anu pears ltS oHlcldi
stamp 1t was accidentally saved during tho con-
aagration by the Communists of portion of the
Palais Royal but still shows its margin the black
traces made by the fumes of the COmmunard petro-
leum The copy of the first edition Of the lcclandic
Bible (IIoar l5S4l-a bulky folio-cost the owner
a church organ. During his trip to Iceland in 1879
Mr. Fske found that certain parish possessed TINS
venerable work, in admirable preservation and III
The original binding stamped with the royal arms OF
Denmark. The parish had decided that IT wanted
an organ for its church than 1t desired to keep
this early Typographical monument Accordingly
Mr. Fiske bought Mt Edinburgh u small church
orCan which was sent tn the island and exchanged
for the Bible One of the unpublished MANUSCRIPTS
il the fullest historical sketch yet written OF modern
celandc literature, that Is ot the period since the
| defamation 1t was presented to this collection
by its author. who has given to the world an ad-
mirable history Of printing in Iceland. and Is the
foremost of Icclandic photographers. This gentle
man now Glls lie has filled ipr several years. the
| humble position OF policeman in Rcyklayik, tho
canital Of Iccland- fact which indicates the spread
| of learning among this remarkabc Northern people.
The two collections. so widely differing IN clar-
| aeter. which | have tried to describe, are both
| nlnced m one apartment-thc most spacious IN tho
| Villa Forn-thc carved shelving ana iurhit,re the
historical frescoes under tho ceiling. the fine or
entail rugs on the floor, the abundant Light and the
| striking bindings. making it perhaps the hand-
| soucst bOok-r | have ever entered. Adjoining
n is he owners study, an Oriental looking sanctun
| in which AIDED by copyist. Mr. Els Ike Is preparing
| cnmplete catalogues of his books. which are 10 he
| pr,yately printed. and winch VIII be material at
| di,ions TO our blbliographical knowledge OF the
snecal TOPICS they treat II is understood that the
| Ultimate destination of both these invaluable col
lectons Is 10 hc the Cornell niyerslty OF which III
| stitntion Mr. fiske was so long librarian. lt may
well rejoice ut the prospect OF one dag possessing
. such treas res. lhEoDo"H oiAHioN'
Paris. Feb TO- 1855.