Valgerður Jónsdóttir´s book of correspondence, Lbs 26.fol.

The manuscript Lbs 26 fol. is a large book, containing the correspondence of bishop Hannes Finnsson and his widow Valgerður Jónsdóttir. However, the book is usually referred to as Valgerður's book of correspondence, as most of the letters are from her. The book was amongst almost 400 other manuscripts which Valgerður sold to the National Library in 1846. The purchase of those manuscripts is considered to be the foundation of the National Library's manuscript collection.

Valgerður Jónsdóttir (1771–1856) was only 18 years old when she married Hannes Finnsson, the bishop of Skálholt. At the time, Hannes was fifty, so there was a 32-year age difference between the couple. Hannes died after seven years of marriage and Valgerður became a widow at the age of 25. For ten years she was the sole owner of a large estate in Skálholt but she also owned over 20 plots of land which she rented out to occupants. In addition she owned the rights to driftwood on shores across the country as well as several fishing boats.

The oldest letters in the book are written in early 1796 and until Hannes' death in August of that year, the letters are from him. After his death, Valgerður started her public correspondence and the book contains copies of more than 450 of her letters to 146 individuals, both commercial and private, until 1806. The book is considered a unique source as very few correspondence books belonging to upper-class women from this era have been preserved.  

The book is not written in Valgerður's own hand, even though she was well able to write and other letters written by herself are preserved. The handwriting in most of the letters belongs to Steingrímur Jónsson. He was Hannes' scribe and teacher in Skálholt. Steingrímur began his studies in Copenhagen in 1800 and was likely financially supported by Valgerður. In 1806 Valgerður and Steingrímur married and he later became bishop of Iceland. The last letter in the book is written a month before their wedding and Valgerður has probably stopped all public business after she got married for the second time.

Valgerður's book of correspondence is now on display in the library, as a part of an exhibition on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of Valgerður's birth. The book can also be viewed on handrit.is.

 

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