H. N. Jacobsens Bókahandil
Encyclopedia
H.N. Jacobsens Bókahandil is the oldest bookshop in Tórshavn
and Faroe. It is also one of the oldest shops still in business in the Faroe Islands
today.
The bookshop was established on St. Olaf
s day on 29 July 1865 by bookbinder Hans Nicolai Jacobsen. He was the father of Jakob Jakobsen
(1864-1918), who is one of the most important faroese philologist.
H. N. Jacobsen was one of the initiators of a public meeting in Tórshavn
in 1888, aiming at public support for “the protection and preservation of the Faroese language
and tradition
s”, as the notice announcing the meeting said. This is considered as the official start of the Faroese National Movement.
The original book shop was in the old main street "Gongin", but 1918 it was moved to the Market Square "Vaglið", at the start of Niels Finsens gøta, where it still stands today.
With its characteristic faroese grass roof and big maple trees in the foreground, it is a landmark
in Tórshavn; now also containing a Tourist Information office.
In addition, a section of H.N. Jacobsens Bókahandil works an antiquarian bookshop.
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
and Faroe. It is also one of the oldest shops still in business in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
today.
The bookshop was established on St. Olaf
St. Olaf
-People:* Saint Olaf, King Olaf II of Norway* Saint Olaf of Sweden, King Olof Skötkonung-Institutions:*St. Olaf College, a private, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota*St. Olaf Choir, the a cappella choir of St. Olaf College-Places:...
s day on 29 July 1865 by bookbinder Hans Nicolai Jacobsen. He was the father of Jakob Jakobsen
Jakob Jakobsen
Dr. phil. Jakob Jakobsen, , was a Faroese linguist as well as a scholar of literature. He was the first Faroese person to earn a doctoral degree...
(1864-1918), who is one of the most important faroese philologist.
H. N. Jacobsen was one of the initiators of a public meeting in Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
in 1888, aiming at public support for “the protection and preservation of the Faroese language
Faroese language
Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...
and tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
s”, as the notice announcing the meeting said. This is considered as the official start of the Faroese National Movement.
The original book shop was in the old main street "Gongin", but 1918 it was moved to the Market Square "Vaglið", at the start of Niels Finsens gøta, where it still stands today.
With its characteristic faroese grass roof and big maple trees in the foreground, it is a landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
in Tórshavn; now also containing a Tourist Information office.
In addition, a section of H.N. Jacobsens Bókahandil works an antiquarian bookshop.