In December 2025, Erling Haaland and his father Alf-Inge purchased a rare 1594 first-edition Heimskringla at auction for 1.3 million Norwegian kroner, setting a national record for the most expensive book ever sold in Norway. The collection, compiled by medieval historian Snorri Sturluson, chronicles Norwegian kings from the Yngling dynasty through 1177. The Haalands donated the book to Bryne Library, where Erling grew up, so residents could access it freely. There is much more to this story worth exploring.
The 1594 Heimskringla and Why It’s So Rare
Among the rarest books ever to change hands in Norway, the 1594 edition of Heimskringla holds a place that is difficult to overstate. Produced in Copenhagen, it was the first printed edition of Snorri Sturluson’s royal sagas in Norwegian-Danish.
The copy purchased by the Haalands is described as the only surviving copy of that edition in private hands — and, by some accounts, the sole surviving copy entirely. That single fact places it well beyond ordinary rare-book status.
As a 16th-century print, it also represents an early moment in Scandinavian printing and vernacular historiography, making its preservation genuinely significant. The title Heimskringla itself derives from the opening words of Ynglinga saga, where the phrase kringla heimsins translates to “the orb of the Earth.”
Its donation aligns with the view that historic texts serve teaching and guidance for communities and future generations.
How Haaland and His Father Set a Norwegian Book Record
That singular book did not stay in private hands for long.
In December 2025, Erling Haaland and his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, a former Norway international, purchased the manuscript together at auction through SD Auction.
The seller was Johan Fredrik Odfjell, a Norwegian businessman and notable bibliophile.
The pair paid 1.3 million Norwegian kroner, reported widely as roughly $134,000 or about £100,000.
Both Reuters and Artnet confirmed the transaction set a national record, making it the most expensive book sale in Norwegian history.
The father-son purchase drew attention partly because the goal extended beyond private ownership. Haaland grew up in Bryne after his family relocated from Leeds when he was three, as the small Norwegian town is his parents’ hometown.
The donation was framed as an effort to support communal worship and local cultural life at the Bryne library.
What Makes the 1594 Heimskringla Worth £100,000
It is the first printed edition of a text chronicling Norwegian kings from the Yngling dynasty through 1177, linked to medieval historian Snorri Sturluson.
The first printed edition chronicling Norwegian kings from the Yngling dynasty through 1177, attributed to medieval historian Snorri Sturluson.
No other copy of this printing is known to survive, making it uniquely scarce.
At roughly 430 years old, its age alone commands attention.
First editions of foundational national literature typically attract strong collector interest, and this one delivered, setting the record for the highest price ever paid for a Norwegian book at auction.
The narratives inside focus on Viking kings, warriors, and farmers from the Jæren district, grounding the manuscript in the very region where Haaland was raised.
The 1844 English translation by Samuel Laing, published by Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, brought these same chronicles to a wider audience and remains a significant edition in its own right.
The manuscript’s historical connections also intersect with broader discussions about medieval interpretation of natural history, such as references to prehistoric creatures in period texts.
Why the Heimskringla Now Belongs to Bryne
The pair donated it to Time Municipality, with one condition: it must be displayed openly at Bryne Library, accessible to residents and visitors.
Haaland said the book should “always lie open” so people could read about those who came from Bryne and Jæren.
The EH9 Foundation is working alongside the municipality to ensure secure exhibition conditions.
Time Municipality described the gift as belonging to the people of Time and Norway, not just a local institution. The book was previously owned by shipowner Johan Odfjell, a collector who sold it for more than one million NOK, the highest price ever paid for a Norwegian book. The 1594 printed edition was based on a translation by Danish scholar Mattis Strssn.
Scholars hope the display will prompt public reflection on divine wrath as presented in scripture and its role in justice and correction.
