In a special “pop-up” showcase, Cornell University Library’s Charles W. Wason Collection on East Asia presents rare Chinese books and artifacts to the Cornell community. Wason Collection curator Liren Zheng will host this display of unique items that would normally require special permission to view.

Featured items include:

Ming Dynasty paper currency, issued by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhan (1375)A grand map of the Ming Dynasty (1461)The Yongle Da Dian (Chinese encyclopedia) (1567)An illustrated book for farming and weaving, written by Emperor Kangxi (1696) A letter from Emperor Kangxi to Pope Clement XI (1716)The ship log of Lord Macartney’s Journey to China, which he undertook in service of King George III to congratulate Emperor Qianlong on his 80th birthday (1793)Bible N.T. Chinese version translated by Scottish Missionary Robert Morrison (1813) A copperplate painting of the capture of Amoy (Xiamen) by the British fleet during the Opium War (1841)An Anglo-Amoy (Xiamen) dialect dictionary, compiled by American missionary Elihu Doty (1853)Photos of the first Chinese government’s mission to the U.S. and Europe, led by Anson Burlingame, a retired U.S. minister to China (1868)A photo collection of Gulangyu Island and Amoy (Xiamen) City (1880) The Guang Zhi Ping Lue, a reference book for the imperial examination candidates (1882)50 views of the Siege of Beijing during the Boxer Rebellion (1900)Hu Shi’s letter to Cornell University Library’s director, requesting a Chinese Library (1911)Autographed photos of the Chinese Nationalist Party leaders: Jiang Jieshi, Song Meilin, and Kong Xiangxi, taken by Lewis Gannett (1926)Autographed photos of Chinese Communist Party leaders: Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Peng Dehuai, and Ye Jianying, sent personally to Cornell Alumnus Alfred Harding (1945)