An unusually beautifully appointed Greek parchment manuscript dating from c. 350 and containing one of the oldest known versions of the New Testament. Though located in the Vatican library since the middle ages (hence the name), it probably originated in Egypt.
Codex Vaticanus contains 759 pages, whereof 142 contain the New Testament (also known as the B Vaticanus d 1 version of the NT). This section is subdivided into chapters, and this appears to be the oldest such subdivision by chapter known for the New Testament text.
Taken together with the Codex Sinaiticus, the Codex Ephraemus Rescriptus, the Codex Alexandrinus, the Codex Bezae Cantabrigiensis, the Codex Claromontanus, the Codex Laurensis, the Codex Basilcensis and various fragments, the Codex Vaticanus forms the basis for manuscript transmission of the New Testament.