Stamp

Accession register “seal of a rebel chief”

This seal was used by a military officer who was active in the Taiping rebellion against the Manchu Qing government of China. It was acquired after their defeat by a British soldier.
 
In the accession register the donor is listed as Walter Medhurst of Queens Road, Northernhey, Exeter who presented the seal (E1571) to RAMM in September 1871 along with 2 pairs of lotus shoes (1569/1-2; E1570/1-2).
 
Sir Walter Henry Medhurst (1822 – 1885), the son of the LMS missionary of the same name. Sir Walter died in Torquay, Devon in 1885. Like his father, Sir Walter also spent some time in Shanghai, but in the post serving as Consul. His father’s translation of the Bible into Chinese was adopted by Hong Xiuquan.

Object Summary

Accession Loan No.
E1571
Collection Class
Manuscripts and writing tools
Material
woodpigment
Common Name
stamp
Simple Name
wood stamp
Production Town
Shanghai
Production Country
China, People's Republic of
Production Year High
1871

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military seal (Taiping officer)