Havardar Saga Isfirdings. Kobenhavn, 1923. Signed by Tolkien in pencil on the end paper

Edited by Björn K. Þórólfsson. Copenhagen, 1923. Tolkien's signed working copy.

Havardar Saga Isfirdings. Kobenhavn, 1923. Bound in cloth. Signed by Tolkien in pencil on the end paper.

The saga of Hávarður of Ísafjörður is an Icelandic saga about an old farmer who takes revenge on his son’s killer, the local chieftain.

Published in 1923, this volume bears Tolkien's pencilled ownership signature on the front free endpaper. The text contains pencil marginalia, identified as Tolkien's annotations in the original Tolkien Library catalogue; several examples are reproduced in the photographs.

Bound in reddish-brown cloth with gilt lettering to the spine. Minor rubbing and edge wear, paper toning, and scattered foxing, most apparent on the endpapers and preliminary leaves. Separate pencil identification notes and a numerical reference appear on the front pastedown; these are not attributed to Tolkien.

It tells the history of Howard, who had been a great Viking in his youth and was wounded in Scotland and so walked with a limp. Howard has a disagreement with his neighbor Thorbjørn and during this confrontation Howard's son is killed. Howard seeks revenge and with a group of men attempts to confront Thorbjøn. Instead of facing Howard Thorbjøn flees into the sea and swims away, but Howard gives chase. Thorbjørn climbs up on a small island or rock formation and picks up a large rock to hurl at Howard who is climbing up after him. Then Howard is said to have thought of a different faith he had heard of when he was young & abroad and swears that he will take this faith if he manages to survive. Thorbjørn then drops the slippery rock on himself and Howard easily slays him.

A signed and annotated saga volume from Tolkien's working library.

Digital photos available on request.

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