The oldest of them can be traced to 77H, and belonged to Imam El Hasan El Basry (included in Talaat Collections, no. 50, Qura'an). In addition to that, there is a unique collection of Mamuluks' Qura'ans which were endowed by the Mamuluks' Sultans to their schools in Cairo. This collection was transferred to the National Library in the end of the last century. And, also a unique collection of Persian manuscripts decorated by pictures, golden water and beautiful colors.

 

The manuscripts of the National Library until the first of April 1916 was 19,000 ones, among them 3458 manuscripts represent Mustafa Fadel collection, and it is symbolized by the Symbol (M). It includes 2473 Turkish manuscripts and 335 Persian manuscripts, and 345 manuscripts endowed by Mohamed Mahmoud Bin El Talamiz El Shankitti, and were added to the National Library after his death in 1322H, 1904 A.C, and are symbolized in the index of the National Library by the symbol (SH). In addition to that, There are 189 Qura'ans (among them 27 written by cofian handwriting on Gazelle Skin). And Ali Pasha Muharak's manuscripts which were added to the National Library in 1895, two years after his death.

 

The oldest of these manuscripts is the only copy of the book A Message to Fiqeh Basis written by Imam Mohamed Bin Adrees El Shafaay, handwritten by El Rabea Bin Soliman El Murady, friend of El Shafaay, in the beginning of the third Arabic century. In 265H, it has an approval from El Shafaay to whoever wants to handwrite it. And it is included in the collection of Mustafa Fadel's manuscripts, and is Kept now under the number of 41 Fiqeh basis (M).

 

Since 1929, it has been added to the National Library some precious libraries, which tripled its size, and those libraries are: Kula Library, which is established by Mohamed Ali Pasha in Kula City, where he was born, and was added to the National Library in 1929, and the number of its volumes are 3440. Prince Ibrahim Halim Library and it has 641 volumes. Khalil Agha Library, and its manuscripts are 686 volumes. El Imam El Sheikh Mohamed Abdou Library and its manuscripts are 108 Volumes. Ahmed Bey Talaat Library, who died in 1346H-1927A.C. And its manuscripts are 9549 volumes. Ahmed Bey Talaat Library, who died in 1346H-1927A.C. And its manuscripts are 9549 volumes. The Zakiah Library which was collected by Ahmed Pasha Zaki and endowed it in his life on cupola of Sultan Ghori in Ghoriah, then was transferred to the National Library in 1935 and its manuscripts are 1482 volumes.   The Zakiah Library which was collected by Ahmed Pasha Zaki and endowed it in his life on cupola of Sultan Ghori in Ghoriah, then was transferred to the National Library in 1935 and its manuscripts are 1482 volumes.

 

Those are the most important private libraries, which were added to the National Library.There are less important libraries were added to the National Library and their manuscripts were 38583, in 1954, were 38583 volumes such as libraries of Wagih El Ameri, Omer Makram, Sheikh Ahmed Abou Khatoah and Ali Galal El Husseiny.

 

Bernardo Mortiez, the head of the National Library between 1896-1911, had published a book in which he presented the most precious records of the National Library such as Qura'ans, Arabic papyrus, and manuscripts which presented types of Arabic handwriting and its development through 1000 years.

Bernard Moritz, Arabic palaeography. A Collection of Arabic Texts from the First Century of the Hidjra till the Year 1000, (edited by), publication of the khedivial library, Cairo nُ 16 . Cairo-Wein 1905. 188 planches [ 46x32 cm ]

 

The manuscripts department published in 1989 a guide that explained several Qura'an, Arabic and Persian manuscripts, writing tools, and the first printings materials.