The First English Language Library in China: The English Factory Library (Canton-Macao, 1806-1835)

Macao was the home of the first (British) museum in China (1829-1834) and, as this article establishes, along with Canton, it also housed the first English language library in China. In May 1835, the library was described by a Macao correspondent of the 'Canton Register' as 'the only...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Notes and queries 2014-12, Vol.61 (4), p.508-509
Main Author: Puga, Rogério Miguel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chinese history
English language
Libraries
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Summary:Macao was the home of the first (British) museum in China (1829-1834) and, as this article establishes, along with Canton, it also housed the first English language library in China. In May 1835, the library was described by a Macao correspondent of the 'Canton Register' as 'the only collection of English books in China worthy of the name of a library.' Its Canton 'branch' was at the English factory as books travelled with the East India Company supercargoes during the trading season, when they left Macao to do business in the Canton factories.
ISSN:0029-3970
1471-6941
DOI:10.1093/notesj/gju170