National Library of China, Beijing, China 中國國家圖書館（北京）
rhapsodymaster@gmail.com
Abstract
Based on enormous first-hand data as diaries, memoirs, newspapers, archival materials, books, and journals, this article tries to clarify some important aspects concerning Wen Tien Ke(Ko) (文殿閣) such as when it established, how its inner
structure worked and what its major businesses covered. By doing so, the author tells the story of the Wen Tien Ke: how it had witnessed the vicissitudes of its time and its own, how it had contributed to the cultural exchange and
communication between China and the West through its daily business activities such as rare book retails, and reprint of books on various aspects of China in English and other languages written by distinguished western sinologists.
In all, this article makes efforts to explore the publishing history of Wen Tien Ke from 1934 to 1950s.
