Question on Old vs. New Edition of Icelandic Sagas

I noticed the older edition of this book was a two volume set yet the current book listed on Folio Society's catalog makes no reference to the volume number. Did they combine both volumes or is the single star on the spine indicative that it is volume 1?

It's a (cheapened ) reissue of vol 1 only.

Yes, the single star indicates volume 1. The original edition was bound in full leather, but the reissue is buckram.

>3 jroger1: Quarter leather.

>4 HuxleyTheCat:
You're correct.

And the new edition is quarter buckram with cloth sides (so the difference between old and new is quarter leather vs quarter buckram).

Now, I actually asked Folio recently (within the last month) if they're planning to publish the second volume, since I got the new buckram version when it came out. They said that there are no plans to reissue it at the moment. So skip the new version and hunt for the two older volumes on the secondary market. I will have to replace my version with the older set too...

Thanks for the info. Already have the two older versions on my Christmas list 😀

When I originally looked into the FS books and saw the rather steep price of Sagas 2 on the secondary market, I looked into alternatives and found recommendations for another collection here and elsewhere. They're not illustrated like Folio's, but they contain the complete Icelandic sagas (as opposed to a collection) in 5 leather-bound volumes in a decorated slipcase. They're not cheap either, but very nice indeed with regard to the contents and look. This a link to their website, with which I'm not affiliated. http://sagas.is/yfirlit.htm They are considerably cheaper there than from secondary sellers on amazon etc.

I've never understood Folio's reluctance to reprint vol. 2, since it contains a number of sagas as important as and more interesting than a number of those in vol.1 -- Grettir, Laexdala, Gisli. The recent surge in filmed sword and sandal viking stuff, one still running its fanciful course on the History channel here, would have given them the omnimedia link they usually seek. Too late now, I suppose.

> 9 Jayked

I agree. I could also imagine that the reprinted Vol. 1 would have sold better if it had been partnered with Vol. 2. As it is, I'm sure people hesitated to buy the reprint of the easy-to-get and cheaper Vol. 1 when they couldn't be sure of a reprint of 2. That was certainly true for me, and led to my searching for alternatives.

>8 SF-72:

Thanks for the link! Looks very interesting.

>8 SF-72:
I haven't purchased this set yet, but I did inspect it last time I was in Iceland. Nice books, slightly overpriced. Includes more sagas than the Folio set, being complete sagas of Icelanders. The only downside I recall is that all maps and appendices are shoved into the last volume. Overall I also think it's a good option.

Btw, "Sagas of Icelanders" is not the same as "Icelandic Sagas", so saying this set contains complete Icelandic Sagas is not correct. I apologize for correction and for being pedantic, but the terms are often confused. Sagas of Icelanders are a type of Icelandic sagas which deal with reality-based stories from the times of settlement of Iceland and a few generations afterwards. There are other types - legendary sagas, kings' sagas, etc. Folio set is directly comparable to this 5-volume set as it also contains only sagas of Icelanders.

>9 Jayked:

Perhaps they are just whetting your appetite.

>13 MobyRichard:
Not mine -- I bought both when they first came out.

So when is the Buckram Volume 2 going to be released any ideas?

>15 Comatoes: See >6 elladan0891: Three years ago FS said they had no plans to release it. Volume 1 went OOP since, I don't think they'll be releasing volume 2.

>16 elladan0891: Thank you, I thought they may have changed their mind :(

By the way, were you able to purchase the original quarter-bound leather 2 volume set for your library?

I luckily bought the second edition Volume 2 about three years ago, a most sought after volume. And, have a buckram Volume 1, I can`t see much difference in the distance so I won't bother replacing, maybe someday, probably not.

>17 Comatoes: Not yet... I did see it popping up for sale several times, but as the price was never a bargain, to put it mildly, and there were other books higher on my prioritized wish list, I haven't pulled the trigger yet. But I'll definitely get it sooner, if it comes up for a good price, or later, if it doesn't.

>19 elladan0891: I'm similar as well, that is why I just wanted to buy it outright from Folio Society without exorbitant prices. But you never know if a deal comes up... Thanks.

Just checked ABE for the original two-volume set. Holy Moly, Batman! The prices boggle the mind. Sooooo glad we got ours when they were published.

I was really glad that I found it at a reasonable price in a (for me, I don't speak Dutch) unusual place, a Dutch antiquarian website that was recommended here. I still don't understand why FS re-printed only volume 1 when 2 was already the problematic one to find.

>21 Glacierman: Holy Moly indeed. I bought them when they were published too and never thought they could reach such high prices in the secondary market. But, I don't buy with the intent of reselling anyway.