A library of unlimited number of novel lectins with diverse specificities has been previously generated by randomly mutating the carbohydrate-recognition domain of Maackia amurensis hemagglutinin (MAH). To establish the experimental environment capable of selecting high affinity mutant lectins in E. coli, phage display system was adapted. Carbohydrate binding capacity of two phagemid vectors, pComb3 and pComb8 displaying wild-type MAH lectin was assessed. Specific bindings of pComb3 and pComb8 phages expressing w.t. MAH to affinity-purified polyclonal anti-MAH antibody and to glycophorin was demonstrated. Both phages also showed strong hemagglutinating activity to intact but not sialidase-treated human erythrocytes, which is consistent to the specificity of native MAH. Taken together, two different phage display vectors successfully allowed the expression of active MAH as a fusion protein on the surface of bacteriophage, which will lead to preparation of unique plant lectins with high affinity toward a variety of carbohydrate chains.