The Codex Vindobonensis is in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (National Library) in Vienna. Like the Nuttall Codex (item 22), it is painted on both sides of a prepared deerskin. Scholars believe that it was written in the decades just prior to the Spanish conquest. The front side, consisting of 52 painted leaves, describes the origins of the Mixtec ruling families and the culture's early history. It records the most important spiritual beings of the creation, the first rulers born of the Great Tree (associated with the city-state of Apoala), and the dealings and rites by which these early rulers founded their cities and established their territories. The reverse side, almost certainly by another scribe, has only 13 painted leaves. It records the early genealogy of the important figures of Tilantongo, a prominent city-state. The genealogy is not complete, and the last leaves were hastily drawn. The Tilantongo dynasty is also documented in the Nuttall Codex and other Mixtec documents. Because Apoala and Tilantongo are referred to repeatedly in the Codex, it is likely that the manuscript came from near those areas in the heart of Mixteca Alta (the Upper area).

The leaves displayed are taken from a sequence depicting the Era of the Foundation which shows the Great Tree (Tree of Life) giving birth to the first Mixtec rulers. Reading leaf 37 from the upper right-hand corner down, and then winding to the left through the red guide lines, we see the deities of nature and creation associated with preparing the tree. The Great Tree is shown in the center, and from it emerge the First Rulers, who are listed on leaves 37-35. Leaf 35 then goes on to relate first the marriage of Lord 1-Flower with Lady 13-Flower (both born of the Great Tree), and then the marriage of their daughter, Lady 9-Lizard, to Lord 5-Wind.

The Nuttall Codex is named after Zelia Nuttall, the scholar who identified and published it. Housed in the Museum of Mankind of the British Museum in London, the Nuttall depicts significant historical figures and episodes in Mixtec history. Historical figures are named by a day sign (a number from 1 to 13 represented by dots, plus the symbol for one of the 20 named days), such as 3-Flint. This day sign name is believed to have been used to represent a person's day of birth. An interesting feature of the Nuttall is that it depicts ca. 180 representations of women, nearly all of them portrayed in responsible positions.

Among the significant historical figures recorded on the front side of the codex is Lady 3-Flint; the first two leaves of her account are shown above. Leaves 14-22 depict significant events in her life, including her progress through the priesthood to the high rank of Cihuacoatl (Woman Serpent). In the upper right-hand corner of leaf 14, she meets Lord 5-Flower, who is associated with celestial descent by his footsteps tracing back to a symbol representing the heavens. Next to Lady 3-Flint is her name symbol (three dots and a red-and-white narrow, pointed oval that represents a flint knife). On leaf 15 she is shown in a sacred rite, floating in water and wearing a serpent headdress.

The entire reverse side of the Nuttall is dedicated to the priest and conqueror Lord 8-Deer, also known as Tiger's Claw. Numerous chieftains and conquered lands are also identified. The first two leaves of 8-Deer's story (below) depict his early career in the priesthood. At the upper left of leaf 44, he sacrifices a dog with a companion, 12-Ollin. Lord 8-Deer is identified by the day sign above his head: a deer with eight dots. At the bottom of the next column to the left, he burns incense in front of a divine tree growing from a mountain through a serpent's head. The pages that follow depict 8-Deer's victorious career conquering many cities and lands and performing sacred rituals.