As in other scholarly fields, Maimonides broke new ground by writing a commentary directly on the Mishnah.  Maimonides began composing his commentary in 1161, while living in in Morocco, and completed it in Egypt in 1168. The National Library of Israel owns an autograph copy of two parts of the work-Nashim and Mo'ed. This  is one of the singular manuscripts written in Maimonides' own hand.

This page below is from Seder Mo'ed – "Festival".  Although this is a "clean" copy, changes can still be seen. The large number of notes and corrections in the autograph are evidence of Maimonides' dynamic thinking and constant development.  Maimonides was an original philosopher and thinker who never ceased to question and improve his works.

The Commentary remained in the use of Maimonides' family. In the manuscripts kept at the National Library of Israel there are notes made by Maimonides' son Abraham, and his grandson David, both of whom were scholars and leaders of the community.