What are the earliest manuscripts available for Herodotus?

Answer 1

The oldest manuscript dates to the 10th century

Answer 2

Herodotus was born in the Doric City of Halicarnassus about 490 BCE and died (most likely) at Thurii in Italy about 428 to 426 BCE and he consider himself more of a logographer rather than a true historian. The reference to him as the ‘father of history’ was first bestowed on him by Cicero based upon the fact that he was the first to shape a collection of stories into the portrayal of a great historical proceeding, so as to endow it with a plot.

His uncle, Panyasis, helped define the direction of the life of Herodotus because he a collector of myths and folk-lore and an epic poet of considerable distinction. Panyasis died during a governmental revolution and that cause the exile of Herodotus. Until about 443 BCE he mostly wandered homeless and without a city. With Athens becoming (more or less) his home about the year 445 BCE he gave a public reading of some portion of his history for which he received a reward of ten talents. It was before this period that most of his travels occurred. His initial writings occurred during these wandering years with the reading in 445 BCE being the first official reading (publication?) of his history.