T. H. Tsien is professor emeritus of Chinese studies and curator emeritus of the East Asian Library at the University of Chicago.

"This admirable monograph covers the whole field of epigraphy and the technique of human communication, including the origins and development of paper and the use of it for writing, down to the time of the invention of printing." - Journal of Asian Studies "The best study on the subject, this book should be recommended not only to students of book history and of Chinese culture, but to those in other disciplines who are seeking evidence of the early stages of communication in Chinese Civilization." - Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies