明代永历十一年(1657)王府长史司官印一枚，洪武三年（1370）置王相府，所属有参军府。后改参军為长史。洪武十三年（1380年），废王相府升长史司為正五品，置左、右长史各一人，此印出自明末王府，歷经三百多年沧桑岁月多方流转由欧洲收藏家出品，明史.职官志四记载长史司為明代官署名。掌王府政令、辅相规讽，总管王府事务。凡请名、请封、请婚、请恩泽及陈谢、进献表启书疏等，皆由王府长史奏上，如藩王有过失即问长史，类似今日的监察官兼有府官和国官的性质，為一枚不可多的官印。Ming Dynasty, The official seal of a high ranking Ming Dynasty government official (Chang Shi), officials of this rank are in charge of the overall management of the imperial government, so all requests for names, titles, marriages, benefactors, and statements of gratitude and offerings were first screened by the Chang Shi before presenting it to the emperor. Even Dukes have to answer to them should their behaviour be deemed unsatisfactory. The seal on offer is from the later stage of the Ming Dynasty, and has changed hands many times over the course of more than 3 centuries before making its way to a European collector. Rare.
