About Codex Manuscript Collections

A codex manuscript is a written (not printed) work bound as a book. RBML’s codex manuscript collections include Western manuscripts in collections distinguished by subject, and non-Western works in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and other languages.

The western items are usually bound as codices. The non-Latin items are codices or palm-leaf style manuscripts or whatever format is appropriate to the time, culture, and use. Printed materials in these languages cataloged for our printed book collections are not listed here (although a few of these collections include some printed materials because of historical happenstance). 

Finding Western Manuscripts:

For information about Medieval and Renaissance manuscripts,click here.

Cards for post-1600 Western codex manuscripts are filed in the manuscript/document card file in the RBML reference area under author. There is also a shelf list card file for individual collections. For General Manuscripts, there is a binder at the reference desk with indexes by date and by language.  See the More Details link below for a list of collections. For additional assistance, consult with RBML staff.

Finding Manuscripts in Arabic, Hebrew, Sanskrit, and other non-Latin languages

Check the More Details link below for a list of the languages we hold. Most manuscripts are described at an item level in somewhat minimal card files or lists.  For assistance, please consult RBML staff.

More details on Codex Manuscript holdings