Digitized Manuscript Heritage
Six parchment manuscripts from the collections of the St. St. Cyril and Methodius National Library, presented as a compact scholarly catalogue with access to digital images and the available Raman measurements.
Viewing software: To view the specialised image files, you need to install the free Nomacs – Image Lounge software ↗.
Project KP-06-N60/9 of 2021, “Interdisciplinary Methods and Tools for the Study of Manuscript Heritage”
Catalogue of Digitized Manuscripts
Select a manuscript to view its catalogue data, description, digital copy and available Raman PDF reports. Raman measurements are available for NBKM 880, NBKM 20 and NBKM 22.
NBKM 26 (397)Lectionary Gospel
Description
The fragment is severely damaged, with tears and missing sections. It is written in ustav script, with 30 lines per page. The orthography uses a single jer (predominantly ь) and a single yus, with the small yus prevailing; the large yus occurs only sporadically. The calendar records the feast of St. John of Rila.
NBKM 1378Lenten TriodionEarly 13th century · Parchment
Catalogue numberNBKM 1378
TitleLenten Triodion
DatingEarly 13th century
MaterialParchment
Extent8 folios
Dimensions250 × 185 mm
Binding / storageFolder
Provenance / acquisitionUnknown; acquired in 1950
Description
Written in ustav script, with 25 lines per page. It is a palimpsest whose lower layer is written in Greek minuscule and forms part of manuscripts NBKM 203 and NBKM 1157. The fragment contains portions of the services for the fourth week of Lent. The former inventory numbers 9/950 and Fragm. 11 have been preserved.
NBKM 880Apostolos LectionaryLate 12th – early 13th century · Parchment
Catalogue numberNBKM 880
TitleApostolos Lectionary
DatingLate 12th – early 13th century
MaterialParchment
Extent159 folios
Dimensions160 × 125 mm
Binding / storageOriginal; wooden boards covered with leather
Provenance / acquisitionUnknown
Description
The manuscript is a palimpsest containing Greek and Cyrillic texts. It is written in large ustav script by several hands, with 16–20 lines per page. F. Uspensky saw the manuscript in 1896 in Nayden Gerov’s collection in Plovdiv; the book therefore probably originated from Gerov’s library.
Raman Spectroscopic Measurements
11 PDF reports are available for measurements taken at selected points on the manuscript.
11 measurements
How to read the designation: manuscript number – folio and side – measurement sequence number – examined area. For example, 20-17v2-black means NBKM 20, folio 17, verso, second measurement, black ink/letter.
FolioSide№Examined areaReport
40verso1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-40v1-parch.pdf
40verso2black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓880-40v2-black.pdf
40verso3red ink / pigmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-40v3-red.pdf
57verso1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-57v1-parch.pdf
57verso2black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓880-57v2-black.pdf
61verso1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-61v1-parch.pdf
61verso2black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓880-61v2-black.pdf
66verso1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-66v1-parch.pdf
67verso1black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓880-67v1-black.pdf
75recto1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-75r1-parch.pdf
75recto2red ink / pigmentPDF ↗TXT ↓880-75r2-red.pdf
The measurement locations and types are presented according to the supplied filenames. The scientific spectra and analytical results are available in the corresponding PDF reports.
NBKM 468 (121)Tetraevangelion13th century · Parchment
Catalogue numberNBKM 468 (121)
TitleTetraevangelion
Dating13th century
MaterialParchment
Extent6 folios
Dimensions75 × 130 mm
Binding / storageNew cardboard folder
Provenance / acquisitionSupplied by Stavri Georgiev, probably from the Vratsa or Teteven region
Description
The fragment is written in ustav script of the Bosnian Cyrillic type, with 18 lines per page. It contains part of the Gospel of Mark and belongs to the same manuscript as fragment NBKM 23.
NBKM 20 (269)Tetraevangelion14th century · Parchment
Catalogue numberNBKM 20 (269)
TitleTetraevangelion
Dating14th century
MaterialParchment
Extent237 folios
Dimensions270 × 210 mm
Binding / storageCardboard folder
Provenance / acquisitionUnknown
Description
The end of the manuscript is missing. Many folios are torn, have completely detached sections or have become separated from the book block. It is written in ustav script in two columns of 21 lines each. The orthography is Serbian and uses a single jer.
Raman Spectroscopic Measurements
3 PDF reports are available for measurements taken at selected points on the manuscript.
3 measurements
How to read the designation: manuscript number – folio and side – measurement sequence number – examined area. For example, 20-17v2-black means NBKM 20, folio 17, verso, second measurement, black ink/letter.
FolioSide№Examined areaReport
17verso1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓20-17v1-parch.pdf
17verso2black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓20-17v2-black.pdf
17verso3red ink / pigmentPDF ↗20-17v3-red.pdf
The measurement locations and types are presented according to the supplied filenames. The scientific spectra and analytical results are available in the corresponding PDF reports.
NBKM 22 (184)Tetraevangelion13th–14th century · Parchment
Catalogue numberNBKM 22 (184)
TitleTetraevangelion
Dating13th–14th century
MaterialParchment
Extent171 folios
Dimensions245 × 180 mm
Binding / storageLibrary box
Provenance / acquisitionAcquired for the National Library from V. Ikonomov of Macedonia
Description
The beginning and the end are missing. The manuscript is written in large and medium ustav script by two hands. The orthography uses two jers and two yuses. Two full-page miniatures depict the Evangelists Mark and Luke, on fols. 61v and 121r respectively. Following identification, the shelfmarks NBKM 22 and NBKM 467 were combined.
Raman Spectroscopic Measurements
6 PDF reports are available for measurements taken at selected points on the manuscript.
6 measurements
How to read the designation: manuscript number – folio and side – measurement sequence number – examined area. For example, 20-17v2-black means NBKM 20, folio 17, verso, second measurement, black ink/letter.
FolioSide№Examined areaReport
67recto1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓22-67r1-parch.pdf
67recto2black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓22-67r2-black.pdf
67recto3red ink / pigmentPDF ↗TXT ↓22-67r3-red.pdf
467recto1clean parchmentPDF ↗TXT ↓22-467r1-parch.pdf
467verso1black ink / letterPDF ↗TXT ↓22-467v1-black.pdf
467verso2red ink / pigmentPDF ↗TXT ↓22-467v2-red.pdf
The measurement locations and types are presented according to the supplied filenames. The scientific spectra and analytical results are available in the corresponding PDF reports.