Since the beginning of scholarly engagement with China, Europe sought ways to incorporate Chinese characters into continuous texts, as was common for other non-Latin scripts. After 1810, with the scientific advancement of research into the Chinese language, intensive efforts began to print Chinese characters. The production of Chinese type in Europe reached its peak in the 1830s and 1840s. However, European printing houses soon began to import Chinese type produced cheaply in East Asia. The developments in France, the German-speaking countries, Great Britain, and the Netherlands are presented. The study addresses the challenges associated with the production, procurement, and use of Chinese type, both politically and financially.