There was once a Muhaddith who possessed a kitaab of Hadith that was handwritten by none other than Imaam Ahmed bin Hambal (rahimahullah). Narrating the incident that led to him acquiring this kitaab, he mentioned:

We studied Ahaadith under Imaam Sufyaan bin ‘Uyainah (rahimahullah) for a period of one year. Once, Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was absent from the lessons of Hadith for a few days. I wished to visit him, and so I made enquiries and was directed to where he was residing. When I arrived at the place to which I was directed, I found that Imaam Ahmed (rahimahullah) was residing in a cave in the area of Ajyaad (an area of Makkah Mukarramah near Safaa).