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Watercolour of Buckingham House's East Library
The Libraries of George III

George III was a keen bibliophile

ERIK PONTOPPIDAN (1698-1764)

The natural history of Norway in two parts, translated from the Danish original

1755

43.5 x 9.0 cm (book measurement (inventory)) | RCIN 1090500

Erik Pontoppidan was a Danish author, bishop and antiquary. Aside from authoring several works on theology, he also wrote about the history and antiquities of Denmark and Norway.

This is an English translation of his Natural History of Norway, first published in Danish in 1752. In addition to describing the history, landscape, flora and fauna of the country, Pontoppidan also remarked on the existence of sea monsters, such as the Kraken, sea serpents and mermaids. Using accounts from several eyewitnesses, he argued that such creatures did exist and gave extensive descriptions of their appearances.


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