A collector of printed paper scraps, Beijing

A collector of printed paper scraps, Beijing

Notes

University of Bristol - Historical Photographs of China reference number: PF01-25. Photograph by John Thomson, taken at the same place as PF01-31. In 'Illustrations of China and its People' (1873-1874), vol IV, Thomson describes the man as follows: "No.52 is a picture of a literary agent, as we may call him. So great is the veneration of the Chinese for letters, that men such as our old friend here are employed to collect scraps of printed paper, which are afterwards burned before some shrine. This is, however only one branch of the old man's business - he picks up rags and bones from the dust-heaps as well...". See a scan of Thomson's negative (Wellcome Collection ref: 19715i).

Location

Beijing

Date

1871

Photographer

Thomson, John

Material

Paper

Media

Black and white photograph