Initial measurements of CO2 in the air of bubbles in the GISP 2 (Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2) ice core were performed using a dry extraction technique and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy. The record spans the years 1530 to 1940, and includes part of the little ice age. Absolute dating of the air was obtained from the location of the 14CO2 bomb peak in the bubble air, relative dating from the seasonal variations of H218O and electroconductivity. The results for preindustrial times indicate constant atmospheric CO2 levels of 280¿5 ppmv between 1530 and 1810 AD. Thereafter the concentrations rise rather abruptly. The record smoothly connects to the direct atmospheric observations from Mauna Loa. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1991