Ancient Treasure Unearthed: The First Issue of Morgunblaðið from 1913
Exceptional discovery: 1913's initial release of Morgunblaðið found in pristine state
An unexpected discovery was made by Kjartan Friðrik Adólfsson during a household clean-up: a pristine copy of the very first issue of Iceland's Morgunblaðið, published on November 2, 1913. The newspaper, which is now 112 years old, remains remarkably well-preserved.
"This is one hell of a find, mate," said Adólfsson, the chief accountant at the Grindavík town office. "I kept double-checking it, comparing it to other copies I found online. I'm certain this is the real deal!"
It turns out that Adólfsson's parents, avid newspaper subscribers, had this old edition hidden away. His father, born in 1930, wouldn't have been alive for the initial publication. The family lived on the Westman Islands before being forced to relocate due to the 1973 volcanic eruption. "I never thought old man had this, to be honest," Adólfsson admitted.
Among the newspaper's interesting advertisements is an ad from the store Egill Jacobsen, offering clothes and fabrics at cheap prices with the owner bragging about his high trade turnover.
The discovery came down to the wire. "We were getting ready to toss the rest of the estate, and this beauty almost ended up in the bin," Adólfsson recalled. "I saw a plastic folder wedged between some books, and when I opened it, I couldn't believe my eyes - it was Morgunblaðið - the first issue, no less!"
What's astounding is the newspaper's excellent condition, given its age. "No idea how he managed to keep it so minty fresh," explained Adólfsson. "The bloody thing was folded twice and stored in a regular plastic sleeve. I'm gobsmacked it's this well-preserved, aside from one page with a teeny wrinkle."
Now, the precious paper rests securely in Adólfsson's home and is handled with utmost care. "It's like finding a pot of gold," he said.
A historic glance back in time
The first issue of Morgunblaðið consisted of eight pages, double the regular four for weekdays. Adólfsson found the advertisements and announcements particularly entertaining. "There's even an engagement announcement on page two and a list of public taxes or local fees," noted Adólfsson.
The editor's phone number was listed on the front page: simply "500." Vilhjálmur Finsen, the first editor and co-founder of Morgunblaðiḍ, would have fielded calls using that number.
Adólfsson's lucky find serves as an invaluable link to Iceland's media history, one that almost ended in the trash but now stands as a revered piece of the past.
The initial discovery of the exceptionally well-preserved first issue of Morgunblaðið, hidden within an old home, has sent news ripples across the country's lifestyle and home-and-garden circles, shedding unique insight into the newspaper's historical adverts and announcements. Today, this priceless relic resides with giddy care in Adólfsson's home, a remarkable testament to our country's rich heritage.
