New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf in January 2019

New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf

in

January 2019

(Last Updated 31-1-19)

This is a list of new arrivals advertised at The Penang Bookshelf for this month. Please note: -

• Each book advertised below includes a brief description of its contents and condition as well as the price in Malaysian Ringgit. If you want a fuller description of a used book's condition, to look at the scanned contents page, if any, and or to find out the price in USD, please click on the link in blue for the relevant book. 
• If you click on a link after the current month and find nothing, the book's been sold.  
• Of course, if you want to buy anything you see here, you can either do so from the site or contact me at penangbookshelf@gmail.com. 
• This page will be updated constantly until the end of the month.
• The prices shown here hold good for at least this month, but for out of print books, the prices may change in subsequent months.
• All prices include free postage to anywhere in Malaysia.

Malaysia & Singapore - Architecture

Coleman's Singapore - THH Hancock RM90

Although most of his work has been swept away or buried by 'Urban Renewal' schemes in Singapore, this book seeks to record the achievements of one of the earliest surveyors and architects of the city. According to the author 'no other individual contributed so much to the growth and architecture' of Singapore. Very Good Hardback in a similar dust jacket. First Edition. 94 pages with many photographs and plans. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.

Malaysia & Singapore - Arts & Crafts

Gilded Dreams: A Collection of Peranakan Chinese Bed Ornaments - Nelson Lim  RM170

Nelson Lim shares his probably unique collection of Peranakan artifacts, the paraphernalia of sleep. Through colour photographs of and explanatory text  about examples of pillow ends, scent holders, bolster ends, hooks, dangly bits and much more besides, he reveals a little documented side of Peranakan life. The book is bilingual in Chinese and English. 103 pages. New Paperback First Edition  For further details, please see the scanned contents page.



Straits Chinese A Collector's Guide - Boxed Set - Ho Wing Meng   RM350

This boxed set contains all four of the author's well known and trusted guides on the crafts of the Straits Chinese, the descendants of intermarriages between early Chinese settlers in Malaya and their host community. Many in the community established prospering businesses which enabled them to display their wealth through the comissioning and purchase of artefacts that blended many styles. The four Collectors' Guides included in this boxed set are - Beadwork and Embroidery - Furniture - Porcelain and Silver.  New Paperback in a Slip Case. Reprints


Straits Chinese Furniture - Ho Wing Meng  RM100

The book's lavish collection of more than 100 colour photographs may give the impression that this is yet another coffee table book, but after reading a few paragraphs you will realise that collectors are the author's intended audience. As the contents of its 187 pages show, this book has just about all one needs to know to set off in pursuit of a treasure to decorate your home. Contents - 1 - What is Straits Chinese Furniture? 2 - Blackwood/Rosewood Furniture, 3 - Namwood Red-and-Gold Furniture, 4 English-style Teakwood Furniture and 5 - Patina and Dating of Old Furniture. The book ends with a useful glossary and bibliography. Very Good Hardback in a Near Fine Dust Jacket. First Edition

Straits Chinese Porcelain - Ho Wing Meng   RM220


The Straits Chinese, who have been settling and intermarrying with their host community since the 14th century, have also been producing their own style of porcelain since then. Unfortunately today we are unlikely to come across much to collect from any time earlier than the 19th century. Nevertheless there's enough of this beautifully decorated pottery still around to satisfy any collector inspired by this book. 208 pages. The contents include: - Some Background Information on Straits Chinese Porcelain, 2 - The Characteristics of Straits Chinese Porcelain, 3 - Other Types of Straits Chinese Porcelain. There is also a bibliography as well as a map of the major coastal towns, ports and kiln sites in China. Embroidery, 10 - Needles, Threads and Fabrics & 13, The Story of Silk and Sericulture. New Paperback Reprint

The Visible Trail of Chang Fee Ming: Asia in Watercolour - Christine Rohani Longuet   RM220

A selection of the watercolours of one of Malaysia's most successful artists. In this book his works depict scenes in his native Terengganu in Malaysia, Myanmar, Bali and other places in Asia. New Hardback in a similar dust jacket. First edition. 143 pages of which about sixty are colour plates.




The World of Chang Fee Ming - Garrett Kam (ed)   RM280

A selection of the works of Chang Fee Ming, one of Malaysia's best known water colour artists, with an introductory essay by Ooi Kok Chuen. New Hardback in a similar dust jacket. Second Edition. 96 pages of which 82 are colour plates of the artist's paintings. 

Malaysia & Singapore - Biography & Memoirs

A Time of Fireflies and Wild Guavas - Maurice Baker  RM50

An account of the first twenty years of the author's life from growing up in Kedah with a British father and Tamil mother to studying in Raffles College Singapore, where he was when Japan took the city. After the war Baker was both an academic and a distinguished Singaporean diplomat. Very Good Paperback. Reprint 130 pages.






Hardly Ever a Dull Moment - E. K. Fisk  RM200

This is the autobiography of an Australian who first came to Malaya at about the same time as the Japanese invasion, escaped capture and returned to join the Malayan Civil Service after the war. In this last role he made a significant contribution to developing new economic policies from a grassroots rather than a macro economic perspective. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 280 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.




The Real Malay: Pen Pictures - Frank Athelstane Swettenham   RM1,200

Swettenham was the first British Resident-General of the Federated Malay States at the end of the nineteenth century. Like many colonial administrators he found time to write about his impressions of the country where he was based. This is a collection of musings, anecdotes and short essays about what he thought of Malaya and its peoples.Good Hardback. Second Edition  295 pages.

Malaysia & Singapore - Boats, Fishing and the Sea

Boats, Boatbuilding and Fishing in Malaysia - HS Barlow  RM80

Historically Malay life has been focussed on the sea so it is very fitting that HS Barlow has produced a 411 page survey of Malaysia's boating and fishing activities culled from past issues of the Journnals of the Straits, Malay and Malaysian branches of the Royal Asiatic Society. The contents demonstrate that this work is a must for anyone with an interest in this aspect of Malaysia's history.  Ariticles reprinted include - Abbot, W.L. (1907) Bark Canoes among the Jakuns and Dyaks; Dalton, H. Goring (1926) Some Malay Boats and Their Uses;  Gibson-Hill, C.A. (1941 - 1954) A Note ontrhe Christmas Island Canoe (Kolek), Cargo Boats of the East Coast of Malaya, The Indonesian Trading Boats reaching Singapore, The Fishing Boats Operated from Singapore Island,  A Note on the Small Boats of the Rhio and Lingga Archipelago, Tongkang and Lighter Matters,  Further Notes on the Old Boat Found at Pontian in Southern Pahang, The Orang Laut of Singapore River and the Sampan Panjang,  A Possible Origin of the Jong Stories, The Origin of the Trengganu Perahu Pinas, The Boats of Local Origin Employed in the Malayan Fishing Industry; Ishak bin Ahmad (1941) Malay Fushermen's Supersitions; Gopinath, K. (1950) The Malayan Purse Seine (Pukat Jerut) Fishery; Fitch, F.H. (1953) Dusun boats an the Segana Riverm North Borneo; Burdon, T.W. (1954) The Fishing Methods of Singapore; Parry, M.L. (1954) The Fishing Methods of Trengganu and Kelantan; Alfred, E.R. (1986 & 1987) The Pulau Brani Jong & Boats of Singapore and Longuet, Rohani Update on Boats and Boat Building in Estuary of the Trengganu River. The book also contains extensive black and white plates, line drawing and tables.

Home Port Singapore: A History of Straits Steamship Company Limited - Tregonning   RM300

From the late 19th century until the mid 20th century much of the communication and trade between Singapore, the peninsula and Borneo relied on the efficiency of the Straits Steamship Company. Here Professor Tregonning brushes aside most of the colourful anecdotes to apply his historian's skills to reconstruct the company's history. It was not easy, given the loss of most documents during World War II, but the book still remains the definitive work on the subject. Very Good in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition.  321 pages with 53 black and white plates Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. 

Borneo

One Crowded Moment of Glory: The Kinabalu Guerrillas and the 1943 Jesselton Uprising - Danny Wong Tze Ken  RM70

The author, a Professor of History at the University of Malaya, recounts the story of one of the few popular civilian uprisings against the Japanese in Southeast Asia during World War II. What was particularly remarkable about the group known as the Kinabalu Guerrillas, was that its membership was multiethnic, which set the tone for the relationship between different races in North Borneo, present day Sabah, for years to come. New Paperback First Edition. 254 pages with a bibliography and an index



Peeps at Many Lands: British North Borneo - LWW Gudgeon  RM240

An introduction to what was then British North Borneo, currently Sabah, for British children in the early 20th century who were curious as to what life was like in the far flung parts of empire. Despite the patronising tone and the cringe worthy abundance of stereotypes, e.g. "a Chinaman was born for work and a Malay was born for play", the book is probably a fairly accurate view of what most British visitors thought of Sabah at that time. Very Good Hardback. First edition. 88 pages plus 11 colour illustrations and a sketch map. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.



The Honey Tree Song: Poems and Chants of the Sarawak Dayaks - Carol Rubenstein   RM200

This is probably the first extensive and systematic collection of songs and chants of the Dayaks of Sarawak , a significant contribution to understanding of this people and their culture. The collection particularly focuses on  the appealing and spirited linguistic values of the Dayaks . The lyrics of songs and chants are divided into categories devoted to different aspects of Dayak life. Near Fine Hardback in a Similar Dust Jacket. First Edition 380 pages

Malaysia & Singapore - Children's Books

Getting to Know Malaya - Jim Breetveld   RM100

Originally published in 1959, this book was aimed at introducing the younger reader, outside Malaya probably, to the country. The book briefly covers the country's history, peoples and nature and wildlife. With many line drawings by Haris Petie. Very Good Hardback in a similar dust jacket. Reprint. 63 pages with an index.

Malaysia & Singapore - Chinese Community & Culture

Ethnic Chinese Entrepreneurship in Malaysia - Michael Jakobsen  RM180

In this study, Jakobsen discovers that, contrary to popular belief, ethnic Chinese businesses in Malaysia, whether they be large or small, are not particularly driven by ethnic considerations when choosing with whom they trade. He not only looks at how they operate within Malaysia, but also the extent to which ethnic considerations guide their business policies when trading overseas. New Hardback. First Edition. 147 pages with a bibliography and an index. 

Malaysia & Singapore - Cooking & Food

100 Useful Herbs of Malaysia and Singapore - Joseph Samy, M Sugumaran, Kate Lee  RM70

This 248 page book sets out to be a comprehensive guide to consumable herbs still easily found in the tropical vegetation of Malaysia and Singapore. Each herb has been photographed growing in its natural habitat and colour coded as to whether it is fit for medicinal, edible, flavouring, cosmetic or other uses. Please see the scan of the contents 
page for further details. New Paperback 

Malaysia & Singapore - Dance & Drama

Mak Yong Through the Ages: Kelantan's Traditional Dance Theatre - Ghulam Sarwar Yousof   RM50

Traditionally Mak yong is a form of dance and acting which was mainly practiced in Kelantan, formerly  part of Thailand's Patani Province. As a result of the author's submissions, Mak yong was designated by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Mankind in 2005. This book is a collection of the author's essays on this unique art form including its entertainment, healing, traditional and modern aspects. New Paperback. First edition. 103 pages with references and an index. 

Malaysia & Singapore - Fiction

Kebaya Tales: Of Matriarchs, Maidens, Mistresses and Matchmakers - Lee Su Kim   RM60

This 180 page book gives a ficitonalised women's view of the ups and downs of life in Baba Nyonya Society, otherwise known as the Peranakans, the descendants of Chinese and Malay parents. With her usual wit and satire, the author takes us through the community's culture, beliefs and superstitions and much else that characterises this colourful community. The thirteen short stories are interspersed with colourful pictures mainly highlighting Nyonya (female) decorative wear. The book begins with a chapter, "About the Babas and Nyonyas," to give anyone unfamiliar with the Straits Chinese all they need to enjoy this book.   New Paperback Reprint   


Maugham's Malaysian Stories - W. Somerset Maugham    RM100

Six of Maugham's stories set in Malaya with an introduction by Anthony Burgess. 186 pages.Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Paperback. Reprint









Stand Alone - Simon Tay   RM60

A collection of short stories weaving the myths of the cultures of Singapore's citizens, into the stories of every day life in the city. The author who has been a practicing and academic lawyer, Member of Parliament and involved in various charitable causes, is also an award winning writer. New Paperback. Revised Edition. 268 pages. 

Malaysia & Singapore - Laws and the Legal System

Children in Malaysia: Selected Contemporary Issues - Siti Zaharah Jamaluddin & Others (eds)  RM70

A collection of contributions examining various as aspects of the law in Malaysia as it relates to children. Amongst other issues, the essays cover custody, stateless children, child pornography and forum shopping. The authors not only highlight problems in these areas, but make suggestions that they believe will improve the lot of children in Malaysia.  New Paperback. First edition. 205 pages  with a bibliography and an index.






The Constitution of Malaysia: Its Development, 1957-1977 - Mohamed Suffian (ed)  RM200

The then Lord President of the Federal Court of Malaysia and two academic experts in constitutional law have in this book gathered together a collection of essays from both academics and those required as public servants and lawyers to implement the constitution in a  review its workings during the first twenty years of its life.  The subject matter is wide ranging, including fundamental liberties, Islam, citizenship, the King, ministerial responsibility, Parliament, elections, the judiciary, public service and emergency powers. 425 pages. Good Paperback Reprint

Melaka

Eredia's description of Malaca, Meridional India, and Cathay - JV Mills (trans)  RM80

The Malay Portuguese cartographer, Manuel Godinho de Eredia, has left us with one of the best accounts of the Malay Peninsula and its significance in the proto-history of Australian discovery. This book contains maps depicting Melaka and its surrounding regions which were controlled by the Portuguese, information on the  genealogy of the Kings of Melaka, Parameswara's burial place and much other useful information about 16th century Melaka. The book has been translated from the original Portuguese into English. 339 pages  with an index. New Hardback 



The Conquest of Malacca (Trans. Edgar Knowlton) - Francisco de Sa de Menses  RM350

This is not so much a historical account of Albuquerque's conquest of Malacca, but rather a poem written just over a hundred years after the event. The main purpose was to inspire Portuguese of the 18th century to emulate the feats of their ancestors. 234 pages including a bibliography and glossaries. Very Good Hardback in a similar Dust Jacket.

Malaysia & Singapore - Nature & Wildlife

Mammals of Malaysia - MWF Tweedie   RM140

One of Southeast Asia's most distinguished 20th century naturalists, after a career of 25 years on the Raffles Museum staff, introduces the reader to the wide variety of mammals still living in the wild in Malaysia. Near Fine Hardback. First Edition 87 pages with over fifty colour plates as well as line drawings throughout the text. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.





Snake Bites and Their Treatment - P. Gopalakrishnakone & Others    RM220

An introduction to venomous snakes in the Asia Pacific region with special reference to Singapore. There is information on identification of snakes and their typical habitats as well as symptoms of reactions to bites. A useful book for the medical profession, herpetologists and anyone interested in wildlife. Very Good Paperback. First edition. 53 pages with several colour photographs and line drawings. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.





The Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula - A Stephen Corbet & HM Pendlebury     RM240

This classic work on butterflies in peninsular Malaysia is divided into three parts - Part I - Introduction, Part II - Discussion of the Species & Part III - A Synonymic List of the Butterflies of the Malay Peninsula. All of the species have detailed descriptions of habits and habitats and many are illustrated either in in the 55 plates of line drawings and black and white and colour photographs at the end of the book or in line drawings in the course of the book. 537 pages with a general index, a scientific index and an index of English names. Very Good Hardback in a similar Dust Jacket. Revised Second Edition 

Malaysia & Singapore - Numismatics

Coins of North Malaya - William Shaw & Mohd Kassim Haji Ali   RM150

This 64-page book describes scientifically the coins of North Malaya which include states such as Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu. Many of the principal coins are illustrated   and described in some detail. The book ends with a couple of plates and a reference list. Very Good Paperback. First Edition

Penang

Glimpses of Old Penang - Neil Khor Jin Keong    RM400

This book was produced for the 30th anniversary of the Star, once a Penang newspaper, but now a national one as well. Instead of devoting itself to the newspaper's history, the book reviews the history of Penang itself from when it was established as a trading port by the British in the late eighteenth century until the early 20th century. With a wide range of old photos accompanied by informative text from some heritage heavyweights. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.Very Good Hardback. First edition.  149 pages. 




Heritage Houses of Penang - Khoo Salma Nasution & Halim Berbar   RM100

Prizewinning photo journalist, Halim Berbar, teamed up with Penang's well known heritage activist, Khoo Salma Nasution, to produce this stunning book to remind us why Penang's capital George Town has been chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 128 page book combines informative text and brilliant colour photographs to record not only the opulent historic homes of the wealthy but also the more humble dwellings which contributed equally to Penang's bustling growth.   New Paperback Reprint 





Nature Trails of Penang Island - Malayan Nature Society    RM80

Although the visitor to Penang may find this difficult to believe, there are still significant parts of the island which are either forested or given over to agriculture. This book of 30 trails was put together by dedicated walkers in the early 1990s to introduce others to the greener parts of Penang. Good Paperback. 152 pages with three appendices, including one on how to deal with dangerous creatures and plants






Old Penang - Sarnia Hayes Hoyt    RM80

The book is a collection of pictorial and written sketches about Penang as it was and how it had developed until the early 1990s. Most of the  black and white and colour illustrations are reproductions of artistic impressions of the island.  97 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.. Very Good Paperback Reprint







Penang Postcard Collection 1899-1930s - Nasution & Wade    RM200

Khoo Salma Nasution, the well know Penang historian and activist, and Malcolm Wade, arguably the king of Malaya post card collectors, make a perfect pairing to present the largest ever collection (over 700) of postcards of prewar Penang ever assembled. In a time when even ordinary cameras were possessions of the privileged, the postcard was the most common method of photographically recording both the picturesque and the commonplace in daily life. This massive collection of black and white and colour (hand-painted) photographs is matched by Khoo Salma's informative text. Near Fine Hardback. First edition. Signed by one of the authors. 304 pages.


Perniagaan Haji Di Pulau Pinang dan Dokumentasi Sultan Kedah - Abu Talib Ahmad (ed)   RM50

Pulau Pinang pernah menjadi jajahan takluk Kedah sehinggan 1786 apabila pulau ini diserahkan kepada Syarikat Hindia Timur Inggeris. Menjelang 1804 Seberang Perai turut menjadi sebahagian dari negeri Pulau Pinang. Namun hubungan akrab antara kedua-dua negeri terus terjalin dengan Kedah menerima pelaburan dari Pulau Pinang sementara dari segi sosial pengaruh Kedah dapat dilihat melalui dialek Melayu Pulau Pinang. Hubungan ini juga dapat dilihat melalui perniagaan haji di Pulau Pinang yang turut menjangkau ke Kedah sementara Surat Menyurat Sultan Abdul Hamid yang memerintah Kedah antara 1882-1943, turut menyentuh hal-hal yang berkaitan dengan hubungan Kedah-Pulau Pinang. 305 pages with an index. New Paperback 

Perak

Perak: The Abode of Grace - Barbara Watson Andaya    RM300

Eighteenth century history of the Malay peninsula had not been particularly well researched before the writing of this book as it was considered to be a period when little of note was happening before the arrival of the British at the end of the century. Andaya's work sets out to show that this was very far from the case. In fact Perak and a few of the other states were beginning to experience their first glimpses of autonomy as they negotiated their way through weakening pressures from external forces to which they had been subject in the past. Near Fine Hardback in a similar dust jacket. First edition. 444 pages The contents include - I - The Background, II - The Lessons of the Past: Perak and its Neighbours, III - The Return of the Dutch East India Company, IV - The First Years of the Dutch Alliance, V - Sultan Iskandar and the Dutch Alliance, VI - The Reign of Sultan Iskandar as Described in the Misa Melayu, VII - The Testing of the Alliance, VIII - A New Diplomacy 1765-68, IX - The Years of Reassessment, 1769-73, X - Eight Troubled Years, 1773-1781, XI The Final Years of the Dutch Alliance. There are also appendices, a glossary, a bibliography as well as maps. Near Fine Hardback in a similar Dust Jacket. First Edition

Malaysia & Singapore - Politics

Singapore: The Air-Conditioned Nation : Essays on the Politics of Comfort and Control, 1990-2000 - Cherian George    RM60

A collection of about two dozen articles by the author when he was a journalist for the Straits Times of Singapore in the last decade of the 20th century. It also happened to mark the first ten years of an independent Singapore without Lee Kuan Yew as prime minister. He gives an witty and readable insight into what he sees as the Singapore Government's style in interacting with its citizens in formulating and carrying out its policies. 223 pages.New Paperback





The Challenge - Mahathir bin Mohamad   RM50

Mahathir's seminal book, Malay Dilemma, was written before became Malaysia's fourth prime minister. In this book, written while in office, he develops earlier themes on religion, race and the state of the world. Good Paperback. Reprint. 170 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.







The Early Years, 1947-1972 - Mahathir bin Mohamad  RM100

A collection of the early writings of Malaysia's best known Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. Although he first attracted widespread attention with the publication in the early 1970s of 'The Malay Dilemma', he had been a prolific writer on medical, business and political subjects since his student days. Near Fine Hardback. First edition. 142 pages with some black and white photographs and several cartoons by LAT.





The Malay Dilemma - Mahathir bin Mohamad  RM80

Originally published in 1970, since when it has been he best known political tract in Malaysian politics. It launched the transformative career of the author who became the country's longest serving prime minister between 1981 and 2003 and returned again to the post in 2018 as the world's oldest sitting head of state. Good Hardback in a similar dust jacket. Reprint. 188 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page

Malaysia & Singapore - Pre-Independence History

A History of Malaya - RO Winstedt    RM70

Winstedt, a former civil servant and Malay scholar,  takes the reader from prehistoric times through to the early 1950s in one of the 20th century classic histories of the country. Good Paperback. 288 pages with five black and white plates, a bibliography, an index and eight appendices including four genealogies of Malay royal houses.








A Short History of Malaysia - Harry Miller    RM70

A popular history of Malaysia from the time of the Malacca Sultanate until the formation of Malaysia. The author was a journalist with over thirty years experience in the country. He also wrote one of the first biographies of Tunku Abdul Rahman. 274 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. Good Hardback First Edition 








Expedition to Trengganu and Kelantan - Hugh Clifford    RM200

Originally reprinted by the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society in 1961. Clifford was once of the more experienced British colonial administrators in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His colonial career ended in 1929 after having been Governor of Nigeria, followed by Ceylon and then the Straits Settlements. This work was written in 1895 when he was based in Pahang and sent to Terengganu and Kelantan to suppress anti-British unrest. So the work contains some account of the military and political situation but is far more interesting for what it says about the socio-economic situation in these neglected parts of the Peninsula at a time when there was not much written on the subject. Although his observations can be seen to be what might be expected from a colonial officer, there is still much of value to be found when one discounts this subjective viewpoint. Very Good Paperback. Reprint 162 pages with four black and white plates and a map For further details, please see the scanned contents page.


Kota-Kota Melayu - Abdul Halim Nasir    RM300

This book takes a look at a forgotten part of Malaysia's history - forts built mainly by Malay sultans to protect their territory before the advent of British rule in the country. The author spent ten years documenting what remains of 87 of  these structures throughout the country. Where he has been able to find historical information about his finds, it is included. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 249 pages with 24 map, about 200 colour photographs and an index. The book is written in Bahasa Malaysia. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. 




The Malay Peninsula: A Record of British Progress in the Middle East - Arnold Wright & Thomas H Reid    RM700

Wright seemed to make his living advertising 'the permanent planting of the Union Jack' in various parts of the world. This book, originally published in 1912, is in many ways a follow up to his better known Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya, published at the turn of the century. The authors record the country's recent history and the advances made by British power in 'converting this No-Man's-Land of a few decades since into the home of one of the most thriving and contented communities owning the British sway.' The book has nothing to do to with what is today known as 'The Middle East.' Very Good Hardback. Second Impression. 360 pages with a fold out map, 51 black and white plates and an index

Selangor

A Journal in the Federal Capital - George L Peet    RM60

Peet arrived in Kuala Lumpur, as the Straits Times' first correspondent stationed in the city, when the Federal Capital was barely half a century old. Within living memory, the new city had been a Chinese mining village. However, as this personal selection of his articles for the paper demonstrates, Peet's remit stretched throughout the peninsula as it came to grips with being an important part of the British imperial domain. 180 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. New Paperback Reprint 

Malaysia & Singapore - The 'Emergency'

Emergency Years. Malaya 1951-1954 - Leonard Rayner    RM120

These are the personal memoirs of a British civilian, employed at Malaya's only coal mine during the 'Emergency' period. The area of Batu Arang in Selangor was also a hot bed of Communism at the time, so his life was never dull. Very Good Paperback. First edition. 103 pages.

Malaysia & Singapore - Travellers' Tales

The Golden Chersonese - Isabella Bird   RM50

A facsimile of the 1883 edition. Bird was anything but a casual visitor when she reached Malaya in 1879. She was a tough and experienced traveller in many parts of the world. She therefore had enough of a keen eye for the Malayans, their colonial masters and the environment to produce one of the more evocative accounts of the country in the late 19th century. Good Paperback. Reprint. 384 pages with an index, fold out maps of Perak and the peninsula and appendices of letters written by by Hugh Low and Frank Swettenham. With an introduction by Wang Gangwu

Asia

Musical Instruments of South-East Asia - Eric Taylor   RM50

Taylor, a Music Professor at the University of Durham at the time of writing this book, seeks to introduce the reader to the variety of Southeast Asian music by concentrating on the instruments played in the region. By emphasising each instrument's significance in the context of its musical function and the attendant history, beliefs and customs, he manages to avoid the more technical aspects of the art. Good Hardback. First edition. 84 pages with 16 coloured plates and a few other black and white ones For further details, please see the scanned contents page.





Toxic Panda - Adam Adams    RM60

This is a an adventure mystery where the reader has to work out the solution. Each chapter has a puzzle with solutions from earlier chapters to help Sahannon Dublin in her terrifying journey across Asia.  Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 248 pages.

China

Wu Chu Chuan Wu Chi Chuan and Therapeutic Exercises - Mah Chai Soon   RM70

 In 1991 Professor Roland Werner together with the University of Malaya Press started their ambitious project to record  practices of healing prevalent in Malaysia in the Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous  Cultures. This work on the role of Chinese martial arts in personal healing is the first of a planned eleven volumes for the Chinese section of the series.The exercises are explained by detailed written and graphic illustrations. The benefits of each exercise are also detailed. 336 pages. New Paperback First Edition 

Indonesia

Unbeaten Tracks in Islands of the Far East: Experiences of a Naturalist's Wife in the 1880s - Anna Forbes   RM50

Originally published in 1887, this is the account of the wife of the naturalist, Henry O Forbes, as she travelled with him, with enjoyment and in despair, through many parts of the Indonesian Archipelago towards the end of the 19th century. While she delighted in the social life of the Netherlands East Indies capital, Batavia (now Jakarta), she also had to endure bouts of fever and uncomfortable journeys to places that even today are difficult for the traveller to reach. Very Good Paperback. Reprint 305 pages

Philippines

Philippine Emergency and Guerrilla Currency of World War II - Neil Shafer   RM400

A comprehensive list of currency issued by forces opposing the Japanese in the Philippines during World War II. The book also includes valuations at the date of publication and information on the volume of each note issued and, where applicable, where they were redeemed. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First edition. 464 pages with black and white photographs of most of the notes and a bibliography. 

Thailand

Patpong: Bangkok's Big Little Street - Alan Dawson   RM90

This book is not so much a guide to Bangkok's famed red light district, but a history of how the area was transformed from being a few fields into being a magnet for tourists to the city. In amongst a host of anecdotes, Dawson tells the extraordinary history of the area from before World War II until the date of publication. Very Good Paperback. First edition. 148 pages with several black and white and colour photographs. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.

Vietnam

Inside the VC and the NVA: The Real Story of North Vietnam's Armed Forces - Michael Lee Lanning & Dan Cragg   RM50

A US infantryman and a military historian join forces to explain how the North Vietnamese managed to overcome the superior firepower of the US and their allies to take over the whole of Vietnam. Fair Paperback. Reprint 392 pages.

Xtras

Tales of the South Pacific - James A Michener    RM50

Michener's award winning tales of a young wartime naval officer's adventures in the Pacific, Fair Paperback. Reprint. 351 pages














The Bookshop Book - Jen Campbell    RM60

A tour of bookshops in five continents with names from the humdrum to the quirky together with stories about them and those who frequent them." A love letter to bookshops all over the world", according to the publisher's blurb. New Hard Back in a Dust Jacket First Edition 274 pages with an index of bookshops and another one of people