Collectors of fine printed editions and calligraphy who either did not dare spoil the original and yet could not forbear proving their appreciation of a masterpiece would rely on seals to show their ownership or put their connoisseurship on record.
古人珍愛書籍字畫，把玩欣賞之餘，既無法在真跡上畫蛇添足，又不甘自己在名作上毫無參與鑑賞的證明，只有鈐印以示所有權及精心鑑賞的紀錄。