Guides: Plato Research Guide: Manuscripts

Plato, Aristotle, and Other Philosophers

This image shows Plato, Aristotle, and other philosophers under a tree.

Object Type: Print

Materials: Paper

Techniques: Engraving

Production Person: Print made by Giacomo Piccini

Date: 1655

Sources Regarding Plato's Manuscripts

In addition to the resources listed below, consult the Manuscripts LibGuide for other library catalogs listing Plato's manuscripts. The Manuscripts LibGuide is also a good place to start for learning about the process of locating manuscripts (see the Home page). These resources are located in the Greek and Latin Seminar Room (316 North).

The Plato Manuscripts: a New Index
Brumbaugh, Robert S. and Rulon Wells (eds.). New Haven, Yale University Press, 1968. B45.9.P57 Y18 P7 (Stacks)
more...less...
The index provides listings of all the manuscript material held by various libraries throughout the world, arranged in separate indexes by location and by dialogue.
Plato Manuscripts: a Catalogue of Microfilms in the Plato Microfilm Project, Yale University Library
Brumbaugh, Robert S. and Rulon Wells (eds.). New Haven, 1962-1973. B45.9.P57 Y18 P6 (Stacks Folios)
more...less...
This three volume set provides a catalogue of microfilm Plato manuscripts, organized by country. Part 1 contains manuscripts in Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, and Italy. Part 2 contains manuscripts in Austria, Czechoslovakia, Holland, and Spain as well as post-1600 manuscripts in Belgium, Denmark, England, Germany, and Italy. Part 3 contains the general introduction and addenda.
The Vatican Plato and its Relations
Post, Levi Arnold. Philological Monographs Middletown: The American Philological Association, 1934. PA4279.L4 P85 (Stacks)
more...less...
This book provides a discussion on the manuscripts of Plato's Laws as well a list of Plato's manuscripts (organized by country).
The Descent of Manuscripts
Clark, Albert Curtis. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1918. PA47 .C591 (Greek and Latin Reading Room)
more...less...
The book provides the textual criticism and transmission of texts for the manuscripts of Marcus Tullius Cicero, Demosthenes, and Plato (Chapter XII). This book is also available in the stacks.
Iter Italicum; A Finding List of Uncatalogued or Incompletely Catalogued Humanistic Manuscripts of the Renaissance in Italian and Other Libraries
Paul Oskar Kristeller. London: Warburg Institute, 1963-. Z6611.H8 K92 I8 (Greek and Latin Seminar Room)
more...less...
The volumes contain a finding aid for for uncatalogued or incompletely renaissance manuscripts in libraries in countries such as Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Australia, Sweden, and Yugoslavia. These volumes include Plato's manuscripts.

Iter Italicum is also available online through the subscription database, Iter. It is possible to search the online edition by the country, city or town, library, library collection, keywords in manuscript description, and record ID.
Catalogus Codicum Manuscriptorum Bibliothecae Mediceae Laurentianae
E. Rostagno, N. Festa, and Fridolf Kudlien. Lipsiae: Zentral-Antiquariat der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik, 1961. Z6621.B58 C3 (Greek and Latin Seminar Room Folios)
more...less...
The first volume of the catalog focuses on early Christian literature in Greek manuscripts in Italy. The second volume concerns Greek literature, astronomy, and mathematics; this volume includes a general index. The catalog is in Italian.

The catalog include the works of individuals such as Gregory of Nyssa, Gregory Nazianzen, John Chrysostom, John of Damascus, Aeschylus, Lycophron, Sophocles, Pindar, Homer, Plutarch, Demosthenes, Aristotle, and Plato.
A Summary Catalogue of Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library at Oxford
Richard William Hunt, F. Madan, H. H. E. Craster, N. Denholm-Young, and P. D. Record. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1895-1953. Z6621.O973 W5 (Greek and Latin Seminar Room)
more...less...
The catalog lists manuscripts in the Bodleian Library; these manuscripts date from the 5th century to the 19th century. The manuscripts are in Greek, Latin, English, Old English, Middle English, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Welsh, Irish, and Italian.

The Bodleian Library's collection includes Plato's manuscripts such as 2145 (The Apologia Socratis of Plato). You can find additional manuscripts under Plato in the Index (volume 7).