Earliest Autographs

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ἑκηβόλος
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Earliest Autographs

Post by ἑκηβόλος »

My question is a bit difficult to phrase...

Whose is the earliest autograph that is still extant?

[Of course the papyrus is full of correspondence, receipts, contracts etc., but I mean things written by literary greats, generals, church leaders or heads of state.]

Are there verifiable examples earlier than King Odoacer?
τί δὲ ἀγαθὸν τῇ πομφόλυγι συνεστώσῃ ἢ κακὸν διαλυθείσῃ;

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opoudjis
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Re: Earliest Autographs

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Hylander
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Re: Earliest Autographs

Post by Hylander »

I wonder whether there are papyrus documents such as wills or contracts bearing a signature of a less famous person that are even earlier. But I suspect the practice of using a seal was the usual way to guarantee the authenticity of a document, rather than subscribing a signature.

The three complete (or more or less complete) Vergil manuscripts dating from late antiquity have subscriptions by the individuals who prepared them, I believe. I don't know whether these are thought to be autographs.
Bill Walderman

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