Woodblock used to print part of the Ten Commandments in Chinese and later exhibited in Britain. CHRISTIANITY IN CHINA.

Labels on both faces indicate that this artefact of missionary printing was owned by Henry Joseph Moule (1825-1904), a close friend of Thomas Hardy and the brother of two prominent China missionaries. Moule was the first curator of the Dorset County Museum, where this woodblock was perhaps displayed to a curious public. Moule's seven brothers included George Evans Moule (1828-1912), consecrated the first Bishop of Mid-China in 1880, and Arthur Evans Moule (1838-1916), who was active in Ningbo and Shanghai and who also wrote prolifically on Chinese history and current affairs. The primary face has the text of the fourth to tenth commandments, as given in Deuteronomy, and the carving employs a songti character style (with serifs). The largest of the labels reads, "Block from which a page of a book has been printed; viz. part of the Ten Commandments. Printing is a much older art in China than in Europe, but always was, and is, performed as by the pre-Gutenberg European printers, viz. from wood-cut blocks. A rough block, with wood-engraving tools, accompanies this block; and also an inking brush and a printing pad. The press is used (China)." Moule is named on a small label on the reverse. Single wooden block (165 x 210 mm), engraved in 8-columns on primary face, one column of characters and page subdivisions on secondary face, 3 manuscript labels, the largest covering upper-left quadrant of primary face. Contemporary blue pencil note on secondary face. General signs of handling, carved character distinct: very good.