Lot 2004

This is possibly the earliest French missionary letter directly from Pekin to overseas via French international postal system. 1853 (14 June) a French missionary letter dated June 14, 1853, originating from the village of Ngan Kia Tchouang 安家庄 ( Anjiazhuang ) in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Zhili (modern-day Hebei). The letter is written to Institut d’Afrique in Peking by Father Joseph Martial Mouly 孟振生，當時任北京教區代理主教 . The text identifies the ecclesiastical jurisdiction then managed by the Lazarist (Vincentian) order and begins with the traditional pious invocation “+ J.M.J.” (Jesus, Mary, Joseph). Ngan Kia Tchouang 安家庄 (Anjiazhuang) is a famous Catholic “Christian village” in Hebei province. During the mid-1800s, it served as an important missionary station and refuge for foreign priests and local converts. It was often used as a base for the Bishop or senior missionaries when they were not in Beijing itself. On the reverse side, there is a large official episcopal seal (Bishop’s seal) of Joseph Martial Mouly. The transcription of the Seal reads: “JOS. MART. MOULY EPIS. FESSUL. VIC. AP. TCHELY-SEPT. PEKIN.”, i.e., Joseph Martial Mouly, Bishop of Fussula (His titular see), Vicar Apostolic, North Zhili (Northern Hebei) of Beijing.

1853.6.14 寄北京教區代理主教孟振生，由直隸安家莊寄出。可能為自北京經法國郵政系統寄海外之最早教會信件。