RARITY

Collectors saved the chronicle

At the “Mavrodin Readings 2008” held at the University of St. Petersburg, a genuine sensation was made public: St. Petersburg historians discovered in the manuscript department of the Berlin State Library a complete list of the First Novgorod Chronicle, which was considered lost. The manuscript, without visible damage, made on 169 sheets, fully reproduces the text of the First Novgorod Chronicle and includes the Initial Code, “Russian Truth,” the lives of Alexander Nevsky and Mikhail of Chernigov, and the Tale of the Capture of Constantinople by the Crusaders in 1204. Its completeness distinguishes this list from others known to scientists, in particular from the ancient Synodal one, stored in the State Historical Museum. This manuscript was compiled at the beginning of the 18th century on the initiative of the founder of the Russian historical school, Vasily Tatishchev: Tatishchev was going to present it as a gift to the British Royal Society, dreaming of becoming its member, but for some reason the manuscript did not make it to London, but ended up in the hands of a Dutch bibliophile Gerard Meerman, and from him passed on to the famous English collector Thomas Phillips. Count Rumyantsev wanted to buy the most valuable historical document, but did not collect the required amount. After Phillips' death in 1872, his collection began to be sold, and some of the manuscripts and books were acquired by the Prussian National Library (now the State Library of Berlin). Previously, historians were convinced that the priceless copy of the First Novgorod Chronicle was lost in Berlin in 1945.

Magazine "Kommersant Vlast" No. 13 of 04/07/2008, p. 56