Handwritten notes by Cavafy on pieces of paper of various sizes, placed in some of the volumes of the work The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon (London1820), specifically in the following sites: pages 38 and 98 of volume Ι, pp. 136, 146, 384 of vol. ΙΙ, pp. 113 and 248 of vol. IV, pp. 107, 178, 334 of vol. V, p. 264 of vol. VI, p. 143 of vol. VII, p. 87 of vol. ΙΧ, p. 162 of vol. Χ and pp. 97, 170 of vol. ΧΙΙ. The notes are written in English but also include several quotes from Greek authors. Almost no quote, be it Greek or foreign, is accompanied by bibliographical or other references. Most notes are of historical nature and include comments and remarks on the content and method of Gibbon, corrections of erroneous statements and conclusions by the historian as well as historical details. Some of the comments are of literary nature, while there is also a note on metrics. Most are signed "C." and one is signed "C.F.C.".

Handwritten prose text ("The Last Days of Odysseus") on the recto of twelve ruled sheets numbered (1 to 12) at top right. The handwritten title with place (Alexandria) and date («Apr. '94") on the first of four pages of a double sheet notepaper, which serves both as cover and as protection for the text sheets. The sheet numbered "3" is smaller in size than the rest. Quotes in English and Italian. Cancellations in red ink. Signed "Const. F. Cavafy" on the last sheet, below the text. The title has been underlined and there is a line in red ink at the end of the text.