Holdings

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According to a 1939 description [1]  the BSI counted 125'000 Chinese books and manuscripts and 30'000 European books.

Later inventories amount to 200'000 volumes.

Among the rarities were precious Chinese books from the Ming Dynasty, as well as an original of the 1725 Encyclopedia Gujin Tushu Jicheng (Chinese: 古今圖書集成 ) in 6'000 volumes. The special materials included ancient and modern Chinese paintings and calligraphies, a large set of children's drawings, up to 4000 photographs and many artefacts such as musical instruments.

References
  1. "Geneva's Bibliotheque Sino-Internationale". The China Critic. Shanghai: 198–200. June 29, 1939.