2018Eggert Olafsson 250th Anniversary - First Day Cover block of 4

Eggert Ólafsson (1726-1768) was a poet, a writer and a naturalist from Svefneyjar islands in the northwest of Iceland. He was one of the first advocates of the Enlightenment in Iceland. Eggert studied natural sciences and various other subjects at the University of Copenhagen. He was a staunch nationalist and his writings, especially his poetry, burn with patriotic fervour. Eggert is best known for his book on Iceland which he co-wrote with Bjarni Pálsson, one of his schoolmates in Copenhagen. They travelled all over Iceland in 1752-1777 collecting practical information about the country and its people, intent on improving the state of affairs in the country.