Ancient manuscripts

10-11 centuries

Savva’s book.

A Gospel written in Balkans. One of the ancient books written in Cyrillic. Uncial writing.

11 century

1059 

Arkhangelsk Gospel.

One of the earliest books of Ancient Rus. Uncial writing. 

12 century

Gospel Lectionary.

It is one of the most ancient Gospels.
A Lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian worship on a given day or occasion. A Lectionary provides for a Gospel to be read on each day.

13 century

1264

It is the first agreement charter that survived to this day.
It is the most ancient document in the collection of old acts of the State Archive of Charters and Manuscripts of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Documents.

14 century

1353

Uncial writing. 

15 century

Russkaya Pravda.

It was the legal code of Kievan Rus and the subsequent Rus' principalities during the times of feudal division. Written in uncial script.  

  15 century

1497

Enfeoffment and giving patent of the Great Duke of Moscow Ivan III to his nephews.

Uncial combined with cursive.

  15 century

1497

Sudebnik (Code of Law).

Written in half-uncial script.

16 century

Nikon Chronicles.

It is the largest Russian chronicle in terms of chronology and events mentioned.
It is named after Patriarch Nikon who owned one of the copies.
The Chronicle is a huge compilation based on a wide range of ancient manuscripts many of which didn't survive till present days.

Second half of the 17 century

1670
Stepan Razin's Proclamation ("Delightful Letter").

"Delightful Letter" is the inflammatory proclamation that called peasants for "killing the betrayer boyars". For this the leader of the rebels promised people "freedom and salvage".
It is the only charter signed by Stepan Razin that survived till present days.

Second half of the 18 century

An abstract from Alexander Radischev's Journey from St Petersburg to Moscow.

Though it is Radischev's most famous work, Alexander Pushkin wrote about it: "the cause of his misfortune and fame is a mediocre book, not to mention its barbarian language".

First half of the 19 century

1825
Correspondence of Count Chancellor Nikolai Petrovich Rumyantsev and General Nikolay Nikolaevich Raevsky.

Count Rumyantsev was an outstanding Russian politician, diplomat, educator, philanthropist and collector.
General Raevsky was a great Russian general who achieved fame for his feats of arms during the military campaigns in Central Asia, Serbian-Turkish war and Patriotic War of 1812; cavalry general.

First half of the 20 century

1916
Letter of Grigori Rasputin to Count A. Bobrinsky.

Grigori Rasputin was a Siberian healer who was confidant of Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna because of his ability to heal Tsarevitch Alexei's haemophilia through hypnosis.
Count Bobrinsky was one of the influential parliamentarians of the time.