Secondly, we have tried to supply students of the history of the book with an assortment of the physical characteristics of normal medieval manuscripts, including a variety of hands. Most of them are the normal books which provided both pleasure and information to the ordinary reader. For practical research purposes our manuscript holdings begin in the early 11th century with three Anglo-Saxon leaves, and increase in every century. Top of page Access Most of these manuscripts have not been fully described, and in many cases the texts themselves may still be unidentified. A bookseller's description may be available, but should not be accepted uncritically.
Free copies are available on request as long as the supply lasts.
Eventually this checklist will be made available electronically. The William Savage Johnson Manuscripts Reading Room contains basic and advanced works on paleography, on dating manuscripts, on reading abbreviations, on the ornament found in manuscripts, on medieval deeds, etc. Added to this are a few handbooks to help with medieval history, places, etc., and a few dictionaries. Basic reference books, histories of books and libraries, and reference books concerning both printed and MS material are housed in the Printed Books Reading Room. Some reference books are stored in the stacks, and must be requested with a callslip.