So Fragile That It Was Previously Forbidden To Be Opened,

the 17th century book,

the Manual of Calligraphy and Painting (Shi zhu zhai shu hua pu), is now available for the public eye, digitally available through Cambridge University Library’s Digital Library site, it is the earliest example of multicolour printing, the book was created in 1633 by Ten Bamboo Studio and is the earliest known example of polychrome xylography, invented by Hu Zhengyan, the technique, also referred to as douban, uses several printing blocks applied in succession with different inks to achieve the appearance of a hand-painted watercolour,

in addition to Shi zhu zhai shu hua pu, the library has also digitised other selections from its Chinese collections including the oracle bones (the earliest surviving examples of Chinese writing anywhere in the world), a Buddhist text dated between 1127 and 1175, and a 14th century banknote that threatens forgers with decapitation which is illustrated above, the text underneath threatens forgers with decapitation and promises that anyone denouncing or apprehending forgers will receive a reward of 25 ounces of silver as well as the property of the miscreant, I find it amazing that there are still so many items that are still to be recorded for all of us to see and enjoy.