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Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana and Other Manuscripts

The Vatican Film Library (VFL) at Â鶹´«Ã½ holds over 40,000 manuscripts from the 4th to the 17th centuries reproduced in microfilm and digital formats principally from the (BAV), but from many other libraries as well. The collections are described and can be accessed in a variety of ways:

  • – Inventory and concordance of manuscript shelfmarks and corresponding VFL microfilm roll numbers for all manuscripts (BAV and non-BAV) reproduced in microfilm; browsable by city/repository and shelfmark
  • – Digital collection of all non-BAV manuscripts reproduced in digital format; browsable by city/repository and shelfmark (images accessible only in the Vatican Film Library reading room)
  • – Digital library of a growing number of BAV manuscripts digitized from VFL microfilm; browsable by language, country, date, and shelfmark (images freely accessible online)
  • – Portion of the overall collection described in the online library catalog; browsable via the following tracings:
    • – Retrieves only BAV manuscripts reproduced on VFL microfilm that have been described in the library catalog
    • – Retrieves all manuscripts (BAV and non-BAV) reproduced on VFL microfilm that have been described in the library catalog

The Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana holds over 80,000 manuscripts. The collection is described and can be accessed via:

  • – Digitized collections of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana: Manuscripts, Incunabula, Archival Materials and Inventories, Graphic Materials, Coins and Medals, and Printed Materials (Note – Compare resources above for copies of BAV manuscripts also reproduced in microfilm or digital format held in VFL collections.)
  • – Online catalog of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana: Archives, Manuscripts, Coins and Medals, Printed Materials, Special Catalogs (Incunabula, Visual Materials), and the General Catalog

Other Guides to the Collections