A Private Encounter with History
Old Icelandic Books offers an exclusive private exhibition for up to six guests, providing rare access to one of Iceland’s most remarkable collections of antiquarian books and manuscripts.
Guests are invited to handle and browse exceptionally rare Icelandic volumes under the guidance of Eyþór, the Guardian of the Books, who instructs on how to care for volumes that are several centuries old. The collection includes early printed works and manuscripts that shaped Icelandic literature, law, religion, and cultural identity.
The exhibition is personally guided by Eyþór, who presents the historical context, provenance, and global influence of these works, explaining how Icelandic texts and ideas travelled far beyond the island of ice and fire and left a lasting mark on European and world history.
What to Expect
Guests receive instruction in the handling of rare books and manuscripts. The storyteller explains how to hold individual volumes and how to turn pages made primarily from cotton-based paper. The earliest printed editions of the world-renowned Icelandic Sagas and other Norse legendary tales are presented to guests, works that laid the foundation for the world’s knowledge and understanding of the Viking Age. Guests are also introduced to the books behind Iceland’s Age of Enlightenment, alongside the country’s oldest bibles and religious texts from other lands.
A Bespoke Experience
Access is intentionally limited. Each exhibition is unique and tailored to the guests present. With a small number of visitors per session, the experience retains its depth and intimacy, where real engagement and scholarly context are given the space they deserve.
This is not a traditional museum visit. It is a bespoke cultural experience designed for those who want to reach the core of Icelandic culture and heritage, something so unique it will stay with you for life.
“Holding a first edition of the sagas in my hands was something I will never forget. Eyþór’s storytelling made every page come alive.”
– Catherine D., France“An intimate, deeply personal experience. The level of access to these rare volumes is simply unmatched anywhere in the world.”
– Mark and Helen R., Australia