Schuh’s Annotated Bio-Bibliography

TROIL, Uno von.

(1746 – 1803)

(Born: Stockholm, Sweden, 24 February 1746; Died: 1803) Swedish theologian.

Troil was the son of Samuel Troilius, who had also been archbishop. He was known for great wit at a young age. After completing his studies, he traveled abroad to Holland, Iceland and Göttingen. Returning home to Sweden, Troil was ordained a priest in 1773. In 1775 he was appointed court chaplain, and in 1776 he married. In 1780 he was consecrated bishop of Linköping, then in 1786 he was ordained archbishop, at the young age of 40. Troil was also a member of several scientific societies, and was a benefactor to them throughout much of his life.

Biographical references: Biographiskt Lexicon. • SBA: Scandinavian Biographical Archive: B-341, 167-198. • Svenskt Biografiskt Handlexikon: 2, 636-7. • WBI.

Bref, 1777

8°: [2], 20, [2], 376, [2] p., engraved title, 14 folded plates, illus., one folded map.

Rare. Troil was the Archbishop of Upsala, but accompanied an expedition undertaken by Joseph Banks to Iceland in 1772. This is an account of those travels. The English naturalist, Joseph Banks, originally intended to accompany Cook on his second voyage, but circumstances forced him to withdraw and, instead, he employed the assistants and materials he had gathered together in a voyage to Iceland. They reached the island in August, climbed to the top of Hecla, and returned in six weeks via the Hebrides and Staffa. Troil"s account of the expedition contains interesting observations on volcanoes, basaltes, hot springs, antiquities, manners and customs, literature, civil and ecclesiastical history, and the fishery industry.

The book also includes appendices by Torbern Olaf Bergman on volcanoes (pp. 327-76), Abraham Bäck on elephantiasis in Iceland (pp. 312-26), and Johan Ihre on the Snorra Edda (pp. 291-311). A bibliography is contained on pages 11-16. The plates show geysers, volcanoes, geological structures, glaciers and ancient monuments.

Bibliographical references: BL [981.a.15.]. • Cox, Guide to the Literature of Travel, 1948-50: 1, p. 185. • LKG: XIV 33. • Personal communication [Peter Kiefer, Pforzheim, supplied a title page image for transcription.]. • SWIM: 2, no. 31.

German edition

8°: xxvi, 342, [4] p., folding table, 12 folding plates, one folding map. Dedication of translator is signed Johann Georg Peter Moller. Very scarce.

Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • LKG: XIV 34a. • Personal communication [Peter Kiefer, Pforzheim, supplied a title page image for transcription.].

English editions

3. English, 1780 [London imprint].
Letters on Iceland: containing observations on the civil, literary, ecclesiastical, and natural history; antiquities, volcanos, basaltes, hot springs; customs, dress, manners of the inhabitants, &c. &c. made, during a voyage undertaken in the year 1772, by Joseph Banks, assisted by Dr. Solander, Dr. J. Lind, Dr. Uno von Troil, and several other literary and ingenious gentlemen. Written by Uno von Troil. To which are added the letters of Dr. Ihre and Dr. Bach [i.e. Back] to the author, concerning the Edda and the elephantiasis of Iceland: also Professor Bergman's curious observations and chemical examination of the lava and other substances produced on the island. With a new map of the island, and a represtation of the remarkable boiling fountain called by the inhabitants geyser. London, Printed by and for W. Richardson [etc.] 1780.

8°: xxvi, 400 p., plate, folding map.

Very scarce. Translated from the German version of Johann Georg Peter Moller, by Mrs. Susanna Dorothy (Forster) Dixon. A "Catalogue of Writers on Iceland" contains 120 entries and is contained on pages xviii-xxvi.

The plate shows a geyser.

Another edition, 1810: Letters on Iceland: containing observations on the civil, literary, ecclesiastical, and natural history ... made, during a voyage ... in ... 1772, by Joseph Banks ... assisted by Dr. Solander ... and several other literary ... gentlemen ... To which are added the letters of Dr. Ihre and Dr. Bach [or rather, Bäck] ... concerning the Edda and the elephantiasis of Iceland: also, Professor Bergman's curious observations and chemical examination of the lava ... produced on the island, ... In. Pinkerton (J.) A General Collection of ... Voyages. vol. I. 1808, etc. 4o. [BL, L.R.80.c.1.]

Bibliographical references: BL [Cup.407.i.4.]. • Cox, Guide to the Literature of Travel, 1948-50: 1, 185. • LKG: XIV 37. • Roller & Goodman, Catalogue, 1976: 2, 513. • Ward & Carozzi, Geology Emerging, 1984: no. 2201.

8°: xxvi, 400 p., plate, folding map.

Very scarce. Reprint (unchanged) of the first English edition published in London in the same year. Plate shows a geyser.

Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • LKG: XIV 35b. • Personal communication [Peter Kiefer, Pforzheim, supplied a title page image for transcription.].

French edition

8°: xlviij, 474 p., 3 folding plates, 2 folding maps.

Very scarce. The original, published at Upsala, 1777, was augmented and revised by the author for this edition, and translated by G.A. Lindblom under the direction of B.G. Sage. Prefixed are extracts from the prefaces of the English and German translations, and a letter from the author. Lettre de M. Ihre sur l'Edda: p. 242-263; Lettre de M. Baeck sur le scorbut propre a l'Islande: p. 279-295; Description de l'isle de Staffa, par M. Joseph Banks: p. 392-402; Lettre de M. Bergman sur les sources chaudes, les volcans et les basaltes: p. 403-459. "Catalogue des escrits relatifs a l'Islande": p. xxviij-xxxviij; "Catalogue des anciennes sagas": p. 163-177.

Bibliographical references: BL [no copy listed]. • LKG: XIV 35b. • Personal communication [Peter Kiefer, Pforzheim, supplied a title page image for transcription.].