在英國牛津大學博德利(Bodleian)圖書館所藏閩南歌仔冊中,有幾種封面標示「照廈門原本改良」、「廈門會文堂原本」者,例如《新出臭頭新娘娘子合歌》、《改良廈門市鎮歌》、《最新烏白蛇借傘歌》、《西廂記傳張拱跳檣》、《最新水災歌全本》等,但從其封底標示「廈門會文堂書局印」或「廈門會文堂書局印行」的廣告書單來看,這些歌仔冊照理說應該就是廈門會文堂的刊本,是以所謂「廈門原本」、「廈門會文堂原本」究竟何指?不免令人好奇。若從這些刊本封面的圖象來看,確實與目前所知由廈門會文堂刊行之相同題名唱本有所不同,構圖或繁或簡,各有特色,本文以博德利圖書館所藏閩南歌仔冊封面圖象為研究對象,從印刷技術、圖象內容,兼及廈門、上海、廣州、南洋、臺灣,在通俗讀物、俗曲唱本的印製、出版、發行、銷售方面的跨國圖書商業網絡展開討論。
From the Minnan songbooks found in the Bodleian Library of Oxford University, we can see there are some that carry the label on the cover "照廈門原本改良" (revisions based on the original copy printed in Xiamen) or " 廈門會文堂原本" (original copy printed by Xiamen Huiwen Tang). Theoretically, these songbooks were printed by Huiwen Tang from Xiamen because the label "Printed by Xiamen Huwen Tang" or "Published by Xiamen Huiwen Tang" is clearly shown on the back cover. However, these copies of songbooks have a different cover design from that of the copies original printed by Xiamen Huiwen Tang. Therefore, this paper will focuse on the cover design and image of Minnan songbooks in the Bodleian Library of Oxford University and further discuss the transnational business network of songbooks, paying attention to their printing techniques, their contents, their publication and distribution.