This collection was gathered in China by Thomas Bellot, a naval surgeon and orientalist, in the 1840s. It was left to our city after his death and donated to our libraries in 1857.

The collection is made up of 58 printed books and 4 boxes of manuscript material including rare dictionaries and acupuncture charts. It contains:

• important examples of early Chinese calligraphy
• exquisitely illustrated embroidery pattern books (some in full colour)
• Sutras and books of Buddhist and Christian devotion
• eighteenth century acupuncture charts
• miscellaneous items e.g. games, wall posters and proclamations of Sir Henry Pottinger first governor of Hong Kong.
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No items are in English.

Ask a member of staff in the Central Library search room for a list of items.

You can also look at items from the collection in the search room, please make an appointment (with at least one day notice).

Some items in this collection are very fragile therefore we may show you a copy instead.

Bellot's collection of Chinese bronzes and other objets d'art are housed at Manchester Museum.