A reproduced rubbing of the calligraphy of the Chinese poem ‘Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess’ (洛神賦), signed by the Qing scholar Hu Gaowang (1730?-1798) in 1766, mounted onto a hanging silk scroll. The scroll measures 35cm (w) x 91cm (h).

Inscribed ‘This is a great curiosity’ at the top of the back of the scroll. A note, containing a free translation of the poem in English, was originally rolled into the scroll but has now been separated and stored together. At the back of it is two notes stating: ‘Translated by Harry Parkes’ and ‘The original roll was taken in a Piratical Junk by H. M. S. Rattler in Namguan Harbor. May 1853.’ Both the inscription and the notes are signed ‘A. M.’.