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Shi su zhai cang shu 十宿齋藏書 A book belonging to Joseph’s library, 1952

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/1928/NRI/NRI2/8/6/2/13

Scope and Contents

編號 No.:13 材質 Material:水晶 rock crystal 尺寸 Size:2.80 × 1.70 cm 齋號章。1952年7月10日在北平東安市場委託靜雅齋图章店篆刻,有发票(在52年资料盒里)。據李氏致李大斐信中所述,“十宿”在宋朝為Joseph的音譯。 Library style name seal. A seal made from rock crystal. Shi su is an early (Song dynasty) transliteration of Joseph, and zhai is a study or library, so it means “a book belonging to Joseph’s library”. Bought on 10 July 1952 (see date on the receipt in NRI2/5/15/3/6, and the letter from Joseph Needham to Dorothy Needham of the same date). In the letter he writes: “I have so many with my name on that I don’t need any more of those, but I decided to have an oval one with the name of my library on it – Shih-Hsiu Chhai Tshang Shu – (you’ll remember that Shih Hsiu was the Sung transliteration of the name Joseph, a very recherché piece of information).” Not to be confused with seal NRI2/8/6/2/1, which was probably bought later in the summer by Joseph Needham's Chinese friends after they had seen this one. NRI2/8/6/2/1 is much better quality.

Dates

  • Creation: 1952

Extent

1 object(s) : Rock crystal.

Dimensions

2.80 × 1.70 cm.

Repository Details

Part of the Needham Research Institute Repository

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