New Arrivals at The Penang Bookshelf
in
March 2020
(Last Updated 31-3-20)
An auction catalogue covering 50 lots of Chinese ceramics, 75 lots of Straits Chinese ceramics and 65 lots of Straits Chinese works of art. Most lots are illustrated with colour photographs. Very Good Magazine 80 pages excluding Christie's business material.
Eclectic Cultures for All: The Development of Peranakan Performing, Visual and Material Arts in Penang – Tan Sooi Beng (ed)
In multicultural Penang, the Peranakan/Straits Chinese have developed a magpie culture as befits their mixed Chinese/Malay/Thai racial origins. In this collection of articles the contributors trace how that the theatrical and visual aspects of this adaptive culture have developed and thrived since from the nineteenth century to the present day. New Paperback. First Edition. 312 pages with several black and white plates, a CD laid in and an index
The Crafts of Malaysia - Sulaiman Othman & Others RM100
A comprehensive review of Malaysian craft work from the past to the present. The authors of each section of the book, who are recognised authorities in their specialised area of crafts, have chosen both items from various museums in Malaysia, but also pieces that are being produced in workshops in various parts of the country today. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 240 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
One of the first comprehensive histories of Sarawak under Brooke rule with a preface by Charles Brooke. Very Good Hardback. First Edition 464 pages. with an index
Borneo Research Bulletin Vol 29 1998 - Clifford Sather (ed) RM80
For further details of the issue's contents, please see the scanned front cover. Very Good Paperback. 296 pages
British North Borneo - Owen Rutter RM600
The author was an employee of the North Borneo Chartered Company, a private enterprise, which controlled present day state of Sabah from 1882 to the Japanese Invasion in 1942. In this book he sets out what he sees as the effects of the first 40 years of the company's administration as well as giving a detailed survey of the country in the early 20th century. 404 pages with 42 black and white plates. The Contents include I- Geography, II - Residences, III - Native Population, IV - Early History, V - The British North Borneo Company, VI - Administration, VII - Punitive Expeditions, VIII - The Jungles, IX - Agriculture, X - Minerals, XI - Native Customs & Folk-Lore, XII - Native Affairs, XIII - Travel, XIV - North Borneo Day by Day as well as three appendices of economic statistics and one appendix comparing local dialects With a fold out map Good Hard back First Edition
Cuartenori y los piratas malayos (1816-1880) - Alicia Castellanos RM120
This is the story of Carlos Cuarteroni, a Spanish adventurer, who roamed the Malay Archipelago firstly as a trader and treasure hunter, then as a saviour of Christian slaves of Malay pirates and finally as a missionary in Labuan and other parts of Borneo. The book is in Spanish. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 254 pages with a bibliography.
Labuan Story - The Story of a Small Island Near The Coast of Borneo - Maxwell Hall RM60
Hall, was a British colonial officer who saw fifty years' service with the North Borneo Chartered Company and wrote several books on Borneo's past. Here he turns his attention to the history of a strategic island off the island of Borneo which was wrested from the Brunei Sultanate by the the British in the mid 19th century. After passing between the British Government and various colonial proxies, it is now a Federal Territory of Malaysia. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1958 . 216 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Nineteenth Century Borneo: A Study in Diplomatic Rivalry - Graham Irwin RM150
The Dutch were the first European colonists in Borneo, but had to withdraw for about ten years because of the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the century. When they returned, Borneo was not a high priority until the arrival of James Brooke in Sarawak. Based on both British and Dutch archival records, the author, a former academic with the University of Malaya, traces the subsequent power struggle on the island. Good Hardback Reprint. Originally published in 1955 251 pages . For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Rajahs and Rebels: The Ibans of Sarawak under Brooke Rule, 1841-1841 - Robert Pringle RM100
In Southeast Asia tribal peoples generally had a favourable relationship with European colonists, who often saw themselves as protectors of the tribes against the more populous and more westernised majority of the colonised. Did the same pattern hold true in Sarawak? In this 410 page book the author sets out to discover how, if at all, the Iban and Brooke relationship was similar. Chapters include - 1 - Land and People, 2 - The Iban Country to the Eve of Brooke Rule, 3- James Brooke and the Iban 'Pirates', 4 - The Malay Plot, 5 - How the Second Rajah Ruled, 6 - Charles Brooke and the Down river Ibans, 7 - Bantin's Revolt: Charles Brooke and the Upriver Ibans, 8 - Iban Migration and the Rajah's Response & 9 - The Ibans and Others: Communal Relations under Charles Brooke. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1936. There are also a few black and white plates, four maps, appendices, a bibliography and an index.
The End of the Brooke Raj in Sarawak - Colin N. Crisswell RM220
Crisswell gives a detailed account of how the Brooke regime in Sarawak eventually came to terms with post World War II reality and ceded the territory to Britain. Very Good Paperback. First edition. 140 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
The Expedition to Borneo of HMS Dido for the Suppression of Piracy - Henry Keppel RM170
Keppel, who later rose to become admiral of the British fleet, gained his first captaincy while on service in Southeast Asia. Coincidentally he took command of H.M.S. Dido just at the time James Brooke was establishing himself in Sarawak. This book is Keppel's accounts of his visits to the state before and after Brooke was established as rajah there. Most of the book is not an account of naval actions, but rather a description of the peoples and country he found there. This is facsimile reproduction of the two volume set, originally published in 1846. 338 and xxviii pages (volume I) 237 and cx pages (Volume 2) including two pull out maps Very Good Hardback. Reprint.
The White Rajahs - Steven Runciman RM100
Runciman, best known for his majestic history of the Crusades, embarked on the more recent history of the Brooke family with some trepidation since many of the characters of the story were either recently dead or still living. Despite being invited by the then Governor to write the book and being given access to Government archives and support from the surviving members of the Brooke family, he manages to produce one of the earliest balanced accounts of the reigns of the three Rajahs. New Paperback. Reprint Originally published in 1960. 437 pages including about 10 black and white plates, notes, a bibliography, a glossary and an index.
Threatened Paradise - Cyril Alliston RM60
An account of the peoples and history of Sabah, formerly North Borneo, at the time of the Konfrontasi, or Confrontation, with Indonesia. The author travelled in the area for seven years to carry out research for this book. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. 208 pages with a glossary and bibliography.
Under Chartered Company Rule - KG Tregonning RM70
Although chartered companies as a vehicle for colonialism had fallen out of favour with the collapse of the British East India Company in the mid 19th century, the North Borneo company managed to get British Government approval and somehow establish a claim to being the longest surviving of such companies in the 20th century. Tregonning, who also wrote a British Government propaganda piece on North Borneo, sets a more academic tone in this survey of its history from initial American enterprise to eventual British colony. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1958. 316 pages For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Views of British North Borneo with a Brief History of the Colony - The British North Borneo Company RM200
This is a faithful facsimile reproduction of a puff piece originally published by the The British North Borneo Company in 1899. Through photographs and statistics the book trumpets the Company's success in establishing itself and expanding its influence in a little more than a decade before this book was originally published. The original edition has been expanded to include an additional chapter on stamps, bank notes and coinage. 69 pages with numerous black and white photographs and two coloured maps. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. Very Good Reprint Weight
World Within - a Borneo Story - Tom Harisson RM100
What comes through in this book is that the author was one of the world's doers par excellence. He was an ornithologist, explorer, journalist, broadcaster, soldier, guerrilla, ethnologist, museum curator, archaeologist, documentarian, film-maker, conservationist, and writer. Having helped found Mass Observation, one of the pioneer organisations for market research, before World War II, he went on during the war to fight behind Japanese lines in Borneo where he spent most his life until his death. This book not only contains his account of how Borneo was before the white man's arrival but also his wartime exploits on the island. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1959 465 pages with an index, maps, black and white plates and line drawings.
Malaysia's economic life would be unrecognisable without the contributions of generations of Malaysians of Chinese origin. In this book the author recounts the histories of eleven Chinese family businesses in Sarawak, looking both at their origins and how they are coping as the founders hand over to new managers, very often from the next generation. New Paperback. First Edition. 170 pages with an index, figures, tables and some black and white and colour photographs
The Malaysian Stock Market and You: A Guide to Wise Investment in the Stock Market - Othman Yong RM80
The author, a Professor of Finance at a Malaysian business school, guides the reader through the complexities of stock market investment, laying particular emphasis on the operation of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). The book is a revised version of two earlier books on the stock market by the author. Very Good Paperback. Second Printing. 242 pages with a glossary of stock market terms and a bibliography.
Trade Unionism in Malaya - Alex Josey RM60
Josey, a veteran British journalist based in Singapore both before and after independence, sets out to demonstrate the delicate path that unions had to tread so as not be associated with the Communist insurgency that dominated the early post independence years. While the Government professed support for better workers' condition, they were seldom hesitant in spotting supposedly disruptive elements in unions that were predominately Chinese. Good Paperback First Edition 52 pages
Women in Development - Khalijah Mohd. Salleh RM100
The author, an academic with a track record of studying and advocating for a greater representation of women in science and technology based areas of business, reviews the effect of the female role in development, both in business and in society as a whole. This is achieved through revised collection of eight papers presented at conferences by her between 1982 and 1984. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 149 pages For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
A review of the legal systems of what was soon, briefly, to become Malaysia. The book is divided in to three parts - I - Constitutional Development, II - Public Law & III - Private Law. The contributors are the editor, then Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya, Singapore, BL Chua, P Coomaraswamy and Theodore B Lee, then Lecturers at the same university and RH Hickling, then Law Revision Commissioner of Malaya. Good Hardback. First Edition. 510 pages with fold out maps of Malaya and Southeast Asia, and indices of cases and statutes as well as a general index.
The Making of the Malayan Constitution - Joseph M Fernando RM60
As Fernando points out in his preface, this work is intended to bridge a gap in scholarly writing examining the personal relationships, agendas and deals behind the scenes that led to getting a constitution ready in time for independence in 1957. The omens for achieving something workable were not particularly bright. The encouragement of popular Malayan participation in Government was novel, the country was struggling to come to terms with a new Communist insurrection and racial conflict was being stoked up by several players. The contents include - 1 - The Origins of the Alliance (1948-1952), 2 - The Transformation of the Alliance (1952-1955), 3 - The Alliance Memorandum and the Inter-communal Bargain (1955-1956), 4 - The Reid Commission: A Question of Balance (1956-1957), 5 - The Tripartite Negotiations, 6 - The Alliance, Nationalism and National Identity: Some Theoretical Perspectives & 7 - Conscience of a Nation. 243 pages. There are also two appendices, a list of sources & a bibliography as well as an index. New Hardback. First Edition
The doyenne of Malaysian cooking brings together a collection of some of her most favourite Asian, Chinese, Indian and Western recipes for the family. The book is divided into sections of her selection of recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner tea time and desserts. There is also a selection of Japanese recipes. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 271 pages with colour illustrations for each recipe.
- 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.
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- All prices include free postage to anywhere in Malaysia and to Singapore.
Malaysia & Singapore - Anthropology & Sociology
Does Class Matter: Social Stratification and Orientations in Singapore - Tan Ern Ser RM120
A Singapore based academic unpicks the country's class system. The predominant middle class is underpinned by a less visible underclass who can feel alienated from hullaballoo surrounding the triumphs of Singapore. In this book the author also examines social mobility and illustrates many of his findings with six case studies. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 130 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Singapore: Society in Transition - Riaz Hassan (ed) RM200
This interesting collection of articles pinpoints the way in which Singapore changed in the years between 1959, when the People's Action Party came to power, and 1975. The contributions are divided into the following themes - I - Social Structure; Core institutions, II - Aspects of Singapore Culture, III - Urban Habitat & IV Other Aspects of Social Structure which includes assessments of the position of women and minorities in the city state. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 371 pages with tables, figures, a bibliography and an index.
The Sociology of Singapore Religion: Studies in Christianity and Chinese Culture - J. R Clammer RM260
A Singapore based academic unpicks the country's class system. The predominant middle class is underpinned by a less visible underclass who can feel alienated from hullaballoo surrounding the triumphs of Singapore. In this book the author also examines social mobility and illustrates many of his findings with six case studies. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 130 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Singapore: Society in Transition - Riaz Hassan (ed) RM200
This interesting collection of articles pinpoints the way in which Singapore changed in the years between 1959, when the People's Action Party came to power, and 1975. The contributions are divided into the following themes - I - Social Structure; Core institutions, II - Aspects of Singapore Culture, III - Urban Habitat & IV Other Aspects of Social Structure which includes assessments of the position of women and minorities in the city state. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 371 pages with tables, figures, a bibliography and an index.
The Sociology of Singapore Religion: Studies in Christianity and Chinese Culture - J. R Clammer RM260
Clammer was a sociologist at the National University of Singapore for twelve years and the author of several books on society in the region. Here he looks at the interconnectedness between ethnicity, "the primary means of social stratification Singapore," religion and the urban environment. He uses these strands to plot changes in the country's society and argues that they should be embraced, rather than resisted. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 125 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Malaysia & Singapore - Arts, Crafts & Drama
Chinese Ceramics & Straits Chinese Works of Art: Sunday 28th September 1997 – Christie's RM80An auction catalogue covering 50 lots of Chinese ceramics, 75 lots of Straits Chinese ceramics and 65 lots of Straits Chinese works of art. Most lots are illustrated with colour photographs. Very Good Magazine 80 pages excluding Christie's business material.
Eclectic Cultures for All: The Development of Peranakan Performing, Visual and Material Arts in Penang – Tan Sooi Beng (ed)
In multicultural Penang, the Peranakan/Straits Chinese have developed a magpie culture as befits their mixed Chinese/Malay/Thai racial origins. In this collection of articles the contributors trace how that the theatrical and visual aspects of this adaptive culture have developed and thrived since from the nineteenth century to the present day. New Paperback. First Edition. 312 pages with several black and white plates, a CD laid in and an index
The Crafts of Malaysia - Sulaiman Othman & Others RM100
A comprehensive review of Malaysian craft work from the past to the present. The authors of each section of the book, who are recognised authorities in their specialised area of crafts, have chosen both items from various museums in Malaysia, but also pieces that are being produced in workshops in various parts of the country today. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 240 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - Biography & Memoirs
This is probably the first significant biography of Francis Light, the founder of British interests in Penang and of his son, William, who went on to set up a British colony in Adelaide, Australia. Steuart was not only able to collect information from hearsay and a few public records but also had access to the journals of both men. 146 pages including an index. Very Good Paperback Reprint. Originally Published in 1901
The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh al-Hady - Alijah Gordon (ed) RM250
This book not only serves to introduce us to the life of and impression that Syed Shaikh, one of Malaysia's most notable religious reformers in the 20th century, made on others, but also to a selection of his writings. At the centre of Syed Shaikh's work was a wish to adapt Islam to modern times rather than following blind tradition. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition 369 pages. Contents - 1 - Riau: The Milieu of Syed Shaikh's Formative Years and The Aspirations of the Subjugated Umma (Alijah Gordon), 2 - The Life of My Father (Syed Alwi al-Hady), 3 - Syed Shaikh: Through the Prism of a Child's Eyes (Syed Mohamed Alwi al-Hady), 4 - Syed Shaikh: His Life and Times (Linda Tan) followed by nearly 100 pages of selections from his writings
The Sara Saga - Manicasothy Saravanamuttu RM250
This is the eventful autobiography of a truly great Asian, of whom is not much known. Born in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, he became a fearless editor of the Straits Echo, Penang's leading English language newspaper for most of the last century, led the citizens' committee that grudgingly handed over Penang to the Japanese and then went back to Sri Lanka to become a leading diplomat at the time of the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement. There is a foreword by Malcolm Macdonald. Good Paperback First Edition 215 pages with several black and white plates For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Verandah: Some Episodes in the Crown Colonies, 1867-1889 - James Pope-Hennessy RM70
In this fascinating biography, the author traces his grandfather's footsteps as a British colonial governor from Labuan, Borneo to Mauritius. John Pope-Hennessy seemed to be earmarked for the smaller outposts of empire which also included West Africa, the Caribbean and Hong Kong. One of the reasons why he never took on larger roles was because his appointments often ended in controversy as he was keen to give Britain's subjects a voice. Yet his competence ensured he was reappointed elsewhere. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 387 pages
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. New Hardback. First Edition
The Pirate Wind: Tales of the Sea-Robbers of Malaya - Owen Rutter RM130
This book provides an account of piracy in Malayan seas during the 18th and 19th centuries with accounts of the principal characters disrupting trade at the time. Eventually the pirates' ingenuity was no match for the might of British frigates who after a protracted struggle tamed the seas.A 292-page book including 18 picture illustrations and 5 maps. Very Good Paperback. Reprint.
The Real Cry of Syed Shaykh al-Hady - Alijah Gordon (ed) RM250
This book not only serves to introduce us to the life of and impression that Syed Shaikh, one of Malaysia's most notable religious reformers in the 20th century, made on others, but also to a selection of his writings. At the centre of Syed Shaikh's work was a wish to adapt Islam to modern times rather than following blind tradition. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition 369 pages. Contents - 1 - Riau: The Milieu of Syed Shaikh's Formative Years and The Aspirations of the Subjugated Umma (Alijah Gordon), 2 - The Life of My Father (Syed Alwi al-Hady), 3 - Syed Shaikh: Through the Prism of a Child's Eyes (Syed Mohamed Alwi al-Hady), 4 - Syed Shaikh: His Life and Times (Linda Tan) followed by nearly 100 pages of selections from his writings
The Sara Saga - Manicasothy Saravanamuttu RM250
This is the eventful autobiography of a truly great Asian, of whom is not much known. Born in Sri Lanka, then Ceylon, he became a fearless editor of the Straits Echo, Penang's leading English language newspaper for most of the last century, led the citizens' committee that grudgingly handed over Penang to the Japanese and then went back to Sri Lanka to become a leading diplomat at the time of the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement. There is a foreword by Malcolm Macdonald. Good Paperback First Edition 215 pages with several black and white plates For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Verandah: Some Episodes in the Crown Colonies, 1867-1889 - James Pope-Hennessy RM70
In this fascinating biography, the author traces his grandfather's footsteps as a British colonial governor from Labuan, Borneo to Mauritius. John Pope-Hennessy seemed to be earmarked for the smaller outposts of empire which also included West Africa, the Caribbean and Hong Kong. One of the reasons why he never took on larger roles was because his appointments often ended in controversy as he was keen to give Britain's subjects a voice. Yet his competence ensured he was reappointed elsewhere. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 387 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - Boats, Fishing & Maritime
Boats, Boatbuilding and Fishing in Malaysia - HS Barlow RM100Historically 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. New Hardback. First Edition
The Pirate Wind: Tales of the Sea-Robbers of Malaya - Owen Rutter RM130
This book provides an account of piracy in Malayan seas during the 18th and 19th centuries with accounts of the principal characters disrupting trade at the time. Eventually the pirates' ingenuity was no match for the might of British frigates who after a protracted struggle tamed the seas.A 292-page book including 18 picture illustrations and 5 maps. Very Good Paperback. Reprint.
Borneo
A History of Sarawak under its Two White Rajahs, 1839-1908 - S. Baring-Gould & CA Bamfylde RM430One of the first comprehensive histories of Sarawak under Brooke rule with a preface by Charles Brooke. Very Good Hardback. First Edition 464 pages. with an index
Borneo Research Bulletin Vol 29 1998 - Clifford Sather (ed) RM80
For further details of the issue's contents, please see the scanned front cover. Very Good Paperback. 296 pages
British North Borneo - Owen Rutter RM600
The author was an employee of the North Borneo Chartered Company, a private enterprise, which controlled present day state of Sabah from 1882 to the Japanese Invasion in 1942. In this book he sets out what he sees as the effects of the first 40 years of the company's administration as well as giving a detailed survey of the country in the early 20th century. 404 pages with 42 black and white plates. The Contents include I- Geography, II - Residences, III - Native Population, IV - Early History, V - The British North Borneo Company, VI - Administration, VII - Punitive Expeditions, VIII - The Jungles, IX - Agriculture, X - Minerals, XI - Native Customs & Folk-Lore, XII - Native Affairs, XIII - Travel, XIV - North Borneo Day by Day as well as three appendices of economic statistics and one appendix comparing local dialects With a fold out map Good Hard back First Edition
Cuartenori y los piratas malayos (1816-1880) - Alicia Castellanos RM120
This is the story of Carlos Cuarteroni, a Spanish adventurer, who roamed the Malay Archipelago firstly as a trader and treasure hunter, then as a saviour of Christian slaves of Malay pirates and finally as a missionary in Labuan and other parts of Borneo. The book is in Spanish. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 254 pages with a bibliography.
Labuan Story - The Story of a Small Island Near The Coast of Borneo - Maxwell Hall RM60
Hall, was a British colonial officer who saw fifty years' service with the North Borneo Chartered Company and wrote several books on Borneo's past. Here he turns his attention to the history of a strategic island off the island of Borneo which was wrested from the Brunei Sultanate by the the British in the mid 19th century. After passing between the British Government and various colonial proxies, it is now a Federal Territory of Malaysia. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1958 . 216 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Nineteenth Century Borneo: A Study in Diplomatic Rivalry - Graham Irwin RM150
The Dutch were the first European colonists in Borneo, but had to withdraw for about ten years because of the Napoleonic Wars at the beginning of the century. When they returned, Borneo was not a high priority until the arrival of James Brooke in Sarawak. Based on both British and Dutch archival records, the author, a former academic with the University of Malaya, traces the subsequent power struggle on the island. Good Hardback Reprint. Originally published in 1955 251 pages . For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Rajahs and Rebels: The Ibans of Sarawak under Brooke Rule, 1841-1841 - Robert Pringle RM100
In Southeast Asia tribal peoples generally had a favourable relationship with European colonists, who often saw themselves as protectors of the tribes against the more populous and more westernised majority of the colonised. Did the same pattern hold true in Sarawak? In this 410 page book the author sets out to discover how, if at all, the Iban and Brooke relationship was similar. Chapters include - 1 - Land and People, 2 - The Iban Country to the Eve of Brooke Rule, 3- James Brooke and the Iban 'Pirates', 4 - The Malay Plot, 5 - How the Second Rajah Ruled, 6 - Charles Brooke and the Down river Ibans, 7 - Bantin's Revolt: Charles Brooke and the Upriver Ibans, 8 - Iban Migration and the Rajah's Response & 9 - The Ibans and Others: Communal Relations under Charles Brooke. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1936. There are also a few black and white plates, four maps, appendices, a bibliography and an index.
The End of the Brooke Raj in Sarawak - Colin N. Crisswell RM220
Crisswell gives a detailed account of how the Brooke regime in Sarawak eventually came to terms with post World War II reality and ceded the territory to Britain. Very Good Paperback. First edition. 140 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
The Expedition to Borneo of HMS Dido for the Suppression of Piracy - Henry Keppel RM170
Keppel, who later rose to become admiral of the British fleet, gained his first captaincy while on service in Southeast Asia. Coincidentally he took command of H.M.S. Dido just at the time James Brooke was establishing himself in Sarawak. This book is Keppel's accounts of his visits to the state before and after Brooke was established as rajah there. Most of the book is not an account of naval actions, but rather a description of the peoples and country he found there. This is facsimile reproduction of the two volume set, originally published in 1846. 338 and xxviii pages (volume I) 237 and cx pages (Volume 2) including two pull out maps Very Good Hardback. Reprint.
The White Rajahs - Steven Runciman RM100
Runciman, best known for his majestic history of the Crusades, embarked on the more recent history of the Brooke family with some trepidation since many of the characters of the story were either recently dead or still living. Despite being invited by the then Governor to write the book and being given access to Government archives and support from the surviving members of the Brooke family, he manages to produce one of the earliest balanced accounts of the reigns of the three Rajahs. New Paperback. Reprint Originally published in 1960. 437 pages including about 10 black and white plates, notes, a bibliography, a glossary and an index.
Threatened Paradise - Cyril Alliston RM60
An account of the peoples and history of Sabah, formerly North Borneo, at the time of the Konfrontasi, or Confrontation, with Indonesia. The author travelled in the area for seven years to carry out research for this book. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. 208 pages with a glossary and bibliography.
Under Chartered Company Rule - KG Tregonning RM70
Although chartered companies as a vehicle for colonialism had fallen out of favour with the collapse of the British East India Company in the mid 19th century, the North Borneo company managed to get British Government approval and somehow establish a claim to being the longest surviving of such companies in the 20th century. Tregonning, who also wrote a British Government propaganda piece on North Borneo, sets a more academic tone in this survey of its history from initial American enterprise to eventual British colony. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1958. 316 pages For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Views of British North Borneo with a Brief History of the Colony - The British North Borneo Company RM200
This is a faithful facsimile reproduction of a puff piece originally published by the The British North Borneo Company in 1899. Through photographs and statistics the book trumpets the Company's success in establishing itself and expanding its influence in a little more than a decade before this book was originally published. The original edition has been expanded to include an additional chapter on stamps, bank notes and coinage. 69 pages with numerous black and white photographs and two coloured maps. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. Very Good Reprint Weight
World Within - a Borneo Story - Tom Harisson RM100
What comes through in this book is that the author was one of the world's doers par excellence. He was an ornithologist, explorer, journalist, broadcaster, soldier, guerrilla, ethnologist, museum curator, archaeologist, documentarian, film-maker, conservationist, and writer. Having helped found Mass Observation, one of the pioneer organisations for market research, before World War II, he went on during the war to fight behind Japanese lines in Borneo where he spent most his life until his death. This book not only contains his account of how Borneo was before the white man's arrival but also his wartime exploits on the island. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1959 465 pages with an index, maps, black and white plates and line drawings.
Malaysia & Singapore - Business, Economics & Labour
Chinese Family Business in Sarawak, Malaysia: Life Stories - Ting Su Hie RM60Malaysia's economic life would be unrecognisable without the contributions of generations of Malaysians of Chinese origin. In this book the author recounts the histories of eleven Chinese family businesses in Sarawak, looking both at their origins and how they are coping as the founders hand over to new managers, very often from the next generation. New Paperback. First Edition. 170 pages with an index, figures, tables and some black and white and colour photographs
The Malaysian Stock Market and You: A Guide to Wise Investment in the Stock Market - Othman Yong RM80
The author, a Professor of Finance at a Malaysian business school, guides the reader through the complexities of stock market investment, laying particular emphasis on the operation of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). The book is a revised version of two earlier books on the stock market by the author. Very Good Paperback. Second Printing. 242 pages with a glossary of stock market terms and a bibliography.
Trade Unionism in Malaya - Alex Josey RM60
Josey, a veteran British journalist based in Singapore both before and after independence, sets out to demonstrate the delicate path that unions had to tread so as not be associated with the Communist insurgency that dominated the early post independence years. While the Government professed support for better workers' condition, they were seldom hesitant in spotting supposedly disruptive elements in unions that were predominately Chinese. Good Paperback First Edition 52 pages
Women in Development - Khalijah Mohd. Salleh RM100
The author, an academic with a track record of studying and advocating for a greater representation of women in science and technology based areas of business, reviews the effect of the female role in development, both in business and in society as a whole. This is achieved through revised collection of eight papers presented at conferences by her between 1982 and 1984. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 149 pages For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - Constitution, Law & Legal Systems
Malaya and Singapore, the Borneo Territories: The Development of Their Laws and Constitutions - LA Sheridan (ed) RM350A review of the legal systems of what was soon, briefly, to become Malaysia. The book is divided in to three parts - I - Constitutional Development, II - Public Law & III - Private Law. The contributors are the editor, then Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Malaya, Singapore, BL Chua, P Coomaraswamy and Theodore B Lee, then Lecturers at the same university and RH Hickling, then Law Revision Commissioner of Malaya. Good Hardback. First Edition. 510 pages with fold out maps of Malaya and Southeast Asia, and indices of cases and statutes as well as a general index.
The Making of the Malayan Constitution - Joseph M Fernando RM60
As Fernando points out in his preface, this work is intended to bridge a gap in scholarly writing examining the personal relationships, agendas and deals behind the scenes that led to getting a constitution ready in time for independence in 1957. The omens for achieving something workable were not particularly bright. The encouragement of popular Malayan participation in Government was novel, the country was struggling to come to terms with a new Communist insurrection and racial conflict was being stoked up by several players. The contents include - 1 - The Origins of the Alliance (1948-1952), 2 - The Transformation of the Alliance (1952-1955), 3 - The Alliance Memorandum and the Inter-communal Bargain (1955-1956), 4 - The Reid Commission: A Question of Balance (1956-1957), 5 - The Tripartite Negotiations, 6 - The Alliance, Nationalism and National Identity: Some Theoretical Perspectives & 7 - Conscience of a Nation. 243 pages. There are also two appendices, a list of sources & a bibliography as well as an index. New Hardback. First Edition
Malaysia & Singapore - Cooking & Food
Betty Saw's Family Meals - Betty Saw RM150The doyenne of Malaysian cooking brings together a collection of some of her most favourite Asian, Chinese, Indian and Western recipes for the family. The book is divided into sections of her selection of recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner tea time and desserts. There is also a selection of Japanese recipes. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 271 pages with colour illustrations for each recipe.
Malaysia & Singapore - Environment, Nature & Wildlife
Hugh Low is probably best known as a colonial administrator, both in Borneo and on the Malay Peninsula. However what took him to Borneo in the first place was botany. Here, published for the first time, is his account of those early years when he was the first to record various orchid species and other plants, sending back specimens to Kew Gardens in the UK. Also included are nearly sixty colour plates of paintings of his finds from his collection. The journal has been edited by RHW Reece with botanical notes by Phillip Cribb. Near Fine Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition 206 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Although this is the third volume of the author's series on stick insects of Borneo, it is his eighth on stick insects in Southeast Asia. His previous two volumes on Borneo listed more than 700 species and sub species and in this book he covers 369 currently recognised Bornean species or subspecies, with 14 new species or subspecies. There are 12 new synonyms, 11 new nomenclatural combinations, 6 nominate subspecies, 11 lectotypes designated, 1 neotype designated and 9 revised statuses. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 288 pages with many colour illustrations.
An Introduction to Malayan Birds - G. C. Madoc RM60
This book has long been considered to be the definitive guide to birds in peninsular Malaysia. Although many other colourfully illustrated books have been published on the subject since this book's first edition was published in 1947, the accurate descriptions and distinctive characterisations, particularly of more common birds, still make this book an essential part of any Malaysian birder's library. In this revised volume the names have been brought up to date. 233 pages with about 20 black and white plates and numerous line drawings by BD Molesworth, an appendix of Malay names and an index. Very Good Paperback. Reprint
Birds of the Forests of Peninsular Malaysia: A Photographic Guide - Rosli Omar RM130
The author, a passionate birder for over 20 years, decided on his retirement to photograph as wide a selection as possible of birds from Malaysian forests, particularly those that were now endangered due to poaching and deforestation. This work, recording 301 species from the lowlands, mountains and mangroves as well as forest tracks, is the result. Besides by colour photographs, each species is described with information on habitat, feeding habits, gender and subspecies differences together with a wealth of other information. New First Edition hardback 350 pages with an index.
The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and Penang - A G Glenister RM100
This guide contains details of all the known species in the Malaysian/Thailand peninsula when the book was originally issued in 1951. Not only does it contain simple identification help in the text but also coloured plates of most of the species and line drawings of the remainder. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.282 pages. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket First Edition
Living with Plants: A Gardening Guide for Singapore and Malaysia - Amy and John Ede RM200
Probably one of the best gardening guides for Malaysia and Singapore, written in the last 50 years or so. The book is not only practical, but caters for gardeners tackling both big and small gardens, those who just want house plants and those brave enough to want to design gardens. 83 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket
One of the National Laureate's better known novels .Very Good Paperback. First Edition 250 pages
Lord Jim - Joseph Conrad RM50
Conrad's classic tale of adventure and romance set in the Malay Archipelago. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1900. 273 pages with an introduction and notes by Susan Jones.
The Professor - Faisal Tehrani RM60
Originally published in Bahasa Malaysia in 2017, this novel narrates the struggles of a feminist professor in the midst of Islamic fundamentalism in Malaysia. Her views are strengthened during her studies in the United States and Europe and put to the test when she returns home to be caught up in violence from conservative groups opposed to her activism and sexuality. New Paperback. First English Language Edition. 321 pages with a bibliography.
Tiger's Moon - Charles Shuttleworth RM130
This is a story about a vendetta between Balang of the Semai aboriginal people of Malaysia's rain forests and 'The Old One', a near mythical tiger that decimated Balang's family. The story was told to the author by Balang and expanded into a novella as a paean to 'the wonder and beauty of the great green solitudes that are the forests of Malaysia.' Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 123 pages.
A History of Malaya - RO Winstedt RM200
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. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Third Revised Edition. 297 pages with nine black and white plates, a bibliography, an index and eight appendices including four genealogies of Malay royal houses.
History of Malaya, 1400-1959 - Joginder Singh Jessy RM200
The first updated edition of this school text book that was required reading for students of the history of the country in the immediate years after independence. 346 pages with a bibliography, an index and some black and white plates. Very Good Reprint of the 1964 revised edition
Malaya - Victor Purcell RM70
An introduction to the British colony of Malaya written by a seasoned colonial official. 151 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Reprint
Malaysia and Ceylon: A Study of Two Developing Countries - Yael Levy RM100
An interesting study of the impact of British colonialism on two Asian countries, both of which were subject to hereditary rule and had mainly agricultural economies when the British arrived. He concludes by comparing each country's political development leading up to and after independence. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 40 pages.
As Brown states in his preface, The Malay Annals/Sejarah Melayu are considered to be one of the finest pieces of literature in the Malay language. It chronicles the history of the Melaka sultanate from its founding until it succumbed to the Portuguese in 1511. The translation is based on the the version acquired by Stamford Raffles, known as Raffles MS no.18 or Raffles Manuscript 18, which is considered the oldest and most faithful to the original. Very Good Paperback. Reprinted from Volume 25, Parts 2 & 3 of the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 276 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
This indefatigable author now turns his attention to the history of the country's freedom struggle against the British and Japanese. In doing so he seeks to write a history from the perspective of the common man and woman, in contrast with the more traditional history which concentrates on the western educated Malaysian elites groomed to take over without rocking the boat too much. Much of the author's work is based on British historical archives of the time. 159 pages including a bibliography. New Paperback. First Edition
The Origins of Malayan Communism - CF Yong RM70
Malayan Communism is best known for its role in undermining the Japanese occupation of Malaya and its role in leading the insurgency that disrupted life in the country in the years immediately after the end of the Second World War. In this book, the author delves into the lesser known aspects of the movement, i.e. its origins, which began as anarcho-communism in the early 20th century and went through many transformations before gaining a foothold in the trade unions in the mid 1930s. The work is based not only on Chinese and English language archives but on interviews with participants in the movement. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1997. 312 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
A well illustrated and informative guide to one of Malaysia's more popular tourist resorts which has also been designated as a UNESCO World Geopark. New Paperback 80 pages with an index
From the late 18th century to the early 20th century the Malay state of Kelantan was loosely governed by neighbouring Siam. However British intervention transferred the state to its own loose control in the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. The author traces the political and administrative development of the state from the late Thai period until the arrival of the Japanese. Please see scanned photos for a list of the chapters.236 pages including a bibliography index, tables and copies of primary sources. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1995
What I Saw in Malaya: Lectures 1934-1938 - Jeanne Cuisinier RM50
This book is a collection of impressions by a French ethnologist, who visited Malaya in the 1930s, working mainly in Kelantan. The main body of the book is a translation of a series of six radio lectures given on her return. The book also includes a lecture at the Royal Asiatic Society and a selection of her notes giving some background as to how she worked. New Paperback. First English edition. 153 pages with several black and white photographs.
Sidek, a prolific author in Malay in the the mid 20th century, here turns his literary skills to explain Malay usage of language whether it be metaphors, sarcasm or other literary techniques. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 391 pages with over 1,000 entries.
Malay Proverbs - Bidal Melayu - A. W. Hamilton RM70
A collection of about two hundred Malay proverbs that were common in the 1930s together with with English translations. The Malay Rumi script predates the 1972 spelling reforms. Near Fine Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1937. 111 pages with a vocabulary
This story of Raja Shariman Shah, a man without children, adopting Kamalul Arifin has become a Malay classic. The story has also been the inspiration for films, Including one starring P. Ramlee. Very Good Paperback 102 pages including notes.
Mengembara Ka-Andalusia -Harun Aminurrashid RM200
The author, a leading light of Malay literary culture in the mid 20th century, recounts his experiences on his 1961 visit to Spain and Portugal. Very Good Paperback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 350 pages with a few black and white and colour plates.
Panduan Mempelajari dan Chernaan: Nur dan Ros/ Darah Kedayan - Muhammad Said & Lela Kenchana RM100
A study guide for two of Harun Aminurrashid's novels, Nur dan Ros and Darah Kedayan. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 85 pages
The author sets out to question whether the mythical heroes of Malay literature were always driven by the honourable motives attributed to them. He wonders about inherent contradictions between certain fundamental values and whether their often feudal nature helps build appropriate role models for the present day. By doing so he hopes to provoke Malays into 'taking a closer look at themselves and their social, political, economic and cultural values.' Good Paperback. First Edition. 140 pages For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
The Malays - Anthony Milner RM140
One of the leading historians of the Malay peninsula and archipelago, not only undertakes a broad ranging review of the people of the area, their history and culture, but also examines the changing nature of Malay identity through the ages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. 293 pages. New Paperback
The author first became interested in the 220 square mile area of Naning, in the Northern part of the State of Melaka, while he was a colonial civil servant during the last days of British colonial rule in the area. While there and subsequently, his research has enabled him to compile this detailed local history of the area and the customs of the inhabitants that had developed during that history. Near Fine Hardback
In 1970 the author was welcomed into the home of Batin Long bin Hok, the headman and shaman of a Jah Hut aboriginal community in Pahang. Over many hours Holaday carefully recorded the community's myths and practices, from which Batin Long bin Hok made the selection for this book as a faithful representation of the Jah Hut beliefs and values. The four stories are in both a transliteration of the Jah Hut language and in English. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 115 pages.
A selection of articles, previously published in the magazine Penang City Eye, highlighting the city's attractions, from its food to its buildings and the culture of its different communities. It serves as a handy guide book to some of the plus points of living in George Town that could otherwise be missed. The book is compiled by Penang residents. New Paperback. First Edition. 201 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Early Penang & The Rise of Singapore 1805-1832 - CD Cowan (ed) RM150
This collection of transcriptions of the original manuscript documents was originally assembled by Cowan to provide students at the University of Malaya with a solid core of original sources for their work. They were later published by the MBRAS for the benefit of a wider readership. The documents show that the reasons why Penang's original supremacy gave way to Singapore are quite complex - a result of a mix of commercial, political and personal influences. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 210 pages with a map and an index.
The Chinese in Penang -Pictorial History - Tan Kim Hong RM550
With over 700 illustrations including photographs of the time and other historical documents and maps, the author meticulously demonstrates the role of the overseas Chinese in the development of Penang from a minor British colonial trading post to Malaysia's second city. The book's text is in both Chinese and English. Near Fine Hardback. First Edition pp. 238. Chapters include 1 - Early Immigration and Population Growth, 2 - Social organisations, 3 - Economic Activities, 4 - Political Orientation, 5 - Schools and Education & 6 - Religious Life. There is both a Chinese and an English Bibliography.
The Penang House and the Straits Architect, 1887-1941 - Jon Sun Hock Lim RM220
A Penang born architect, having spent three decades lecturing at the National University of Singapore's School of Architecture, in this book presents his working life's work, i.e. a detailed study of the domestic architecture of the wealthy during the heyday of its colonial period. His informed text is supported by a wealth of current and historic photographs and building plans. 186 pages Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion - Chan Suan Choo RM200
One of Penang's must see sights is the Penang Peranakan mansion, which is not only a well-preserved and restored example of the opulent houses that Penang businessmen have been building for themselves for a couple of centuries, but also home to a wide range of 19th and early 20th century Straits Chinese domestic ware from the showy to the practical. So this book has lots for those facinated by all aspects of past Penang Straits Chinese life. 179 pages. With chapters on 1 - The Chinese Kapitan, 2 - Hai Kee Chan Office & Residence, 3 - The Restoration, 4 - Additional Structures, 5 -The Peranakans, 6 - The Peranakan House, 7 - The Straits Chinese Collection. There is a bibliography and the book is illustrated with arcgitectural drawings, several colour and a few black and white plates. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 179 pages.
A collection of eighty poems by one of Malaysia's best known poets internationally. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 82 pages.
In his usual incisive style the author seeks to dismantle the monolith of the Barisan Nasional coalition by demonstrating that its uninterrupted rule since independence has resulted in Malaysia being 'freer at independence' than when the book was published. He argues for a different vision of the country, one that incorporates democratic planning, direct action and popular participation in a root and branch reform of society. New Paperback. First edition. 200 pages.
Vietnam-Malaysia: Relations During the Cold War, 1945-1990 - Danny Wong Tze-Ken RM60
Being in the Southeast Asian region, Malaysia was not a complete bystander during the Vietnam conflict. Professor Wong, a specialist on Vietnamese history, traces the evolution of relations, that were intermittent at first, but developed in strength following the disengagement of the United States from Vietnam and both Malaysia and Vietnam's common interest in the Spratly Islands. Fine Paperback. First Edition 210 pages. with a bibliography and index
This is a book that confounds stereotypes, i.e. it is by one of the leading lights of PAS, the main Islamist political party in Malaysia, about his quest for dialogue with Christians. The author was chosen as the first Chairman of the Southeast Asia Forum and Network for Interfaith Peace in 2011. Here he chronicles and explains the motivation behind his important work. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 179 pages
Based on British army experience in the Boer War, and later taken up by the United States in Vietnam, villagers deemed to be potential supporters of the guerrilla forces during the Malayan 'Emergency', were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in 'New Villages.', where they could be more closely monitored by the Government forces. In this book, based on an award winning doctoral thesis, the author retells the villagers experiences backed up by extensive archival and oral research. New Paperback. First Edition. 318 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
An account of the fall of Singapore to the Japanese. Although Owen is highly critical of The British mismanagement of the defence of Malaya, his narrative has a very British focussed perspective, hardly giving much thought to the Malayan citizens who were to bear the brunt of the occupation that followed. 206 pages with an index. Fair Hardback Reprint
In this book the author looks at the development of Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, over a period of one thousand years. By examining the enlargement and renovation activities over the years, he highlights the Qur'an and Shari'ah based principles which he believes guided the architects. Based on these, he advocates a system of Islamic architectural conservation. 166 pages with a glossary, list of references and an index. New Paperback
Diaspora: The Story of the South Asian Muslim Diaspora in Southeast Asia Today - Farish A Noor RM300
Southeast Asia, sitting between India in the West and China in the East has been a cultural melting pot since the early days of sail. In this book, the author traces the history of a little recorded, but significant, group of migrants to the area, the Indian Muslims. The book is divided into three parts dealing firstly with the various forms of Indian influence on the Malay Archipelago, then the community's adaptation to the arrival of the Europeans and concludes with their role during the sunset of empire. New Hardback. First edition 500 pages with a bibliography, index and 17 pages of black and white plates.
Tibb Nabawi on Nature Based Products - Mohd Yakub & Others (eds) RM80
A collection of papers by Malaysian academics submitted to The International Conference on Botanical Medicine Based on Sunnah Nabiwa. Tibb Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine) was medicinal advice believed to have been given by the Prophet Muhammad. The papers illustrate a wide range of uses of herbs and plants for healing. New Paperback. First Edition. 152 pages with an index
A collection of about forty articles on Burmese women's experiences under military rule. With a foreword by Ang San Suu Kyi. Very Good First English Language Edition. Paperback. 144 pages.
This major work is a revised and enlarged edition of the late Wolfgang Franke's An Introduction to the Sources of Ming History (1968). Liew-Herres, who reviews more than 2,500 texts, includes many works overlooked or inaccessible to Franke. Where works have been translated from Chinese into other languages, these are noted. The 1289 pages breaks the annotated texts into seven sections in the first volume dealing principally with aspects of history, biography and politics. The second volume contains chapters on foreign affairs and military organisation, geography, economics and technology. There are also indices of the authors and titles, a glossary and a bibliography. . New Hardbacks. First Edition
Chinese Hand Analysis - Terence Dukes RM70
The author demonstrates how the Chinese system of hand analysis, the Wu Hsing method, adopts a more holistic approach than the Western system generally. Its essential difference is that it is based on the five elements of earth, air, fire, water and ether, representing the physical, emotional, creative, intellectual and spiritual aspects of our characters. Very Good Paperback. 348 pages with appendices, a glossary and many line drawings
An unusual biography of a far from wealthy Javanese boy living in Indonesia's cultural capital of Yogjakarta, as told to the author. The book is full of insights into life in a large traditional family and into how his strict moral upbringing prepared the subject for later life, when he managed to travel, learn foreign languages and establish a career as a batik artist. He eventually returned home to settle down in his home city just as easily as he adapted to his varied experiences abroad. Good Paperback. First Edition 136 pages.
Australind - Henry Taunton RM100
This reprint of the 1903 memoir of the author's journey around nineteenth century Australia. The last 40 or so pages of this 247 page book details Taunton's experiences in pearl fishing with Malay divers in what is modern day Indonesia. Very Good Paperback
Networked: Business and Politics in Decentralizing Indonesia, 1998-2004 - Wahyu Prasetyawan RM100
After the fall of Suharto Indonesian Government policy changed to introduced a more decentralised government and economy generally. In this book the author weighs up the effects of the change on the resource rich areas of East Kalimantan, West Sumatra and Riau as local governments, multinational investors and local elites jostled to take advantage of new opportunities. New Paperback. First Edition. 200 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
After a short introduction to the island's chequered history, the authors provide a detailed guide the inhabitants, sites to visit and activities available for visitors. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 192 pages with an index and maps.
The Cichlids Yearbook Volume 3 - Ad Konings (ed) RM250
A detailed guide to several species of African and South American Cichlids with information contributed by 19 different experts. Good Hardback First Edition 96 pages with many colour photographs
The Complete Aquarium - Peter W Scott RM80
The book claims to be "the first book to present a systematic guide to aquaria based on freshwater and marine environments from all over the world. " Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 191 pages with many colour illustrations, a glossary and an index.
An Introduction to Malayan Birds - G. C. Madoc RM60
This book has long been considered to be the definitive guide to birds in peninsular Malaysia. Although many other colourfully illustrated books have been published on the subject since this book's first edition was published in 1947, the accurate descriptions and distinctive characterisations, particularly of more common birds, still make this book an essential part of any Malaysian birder's library. In this revised volume the names have been brought up to date. 233 pages with about 20 black and white plates and numerous line drawings by BD Molesworth, an appendix of Malay names and an index. Very Good Paperback. Reprint
Birds of the Forests of Peninsular Malaysia: A Photographic Guide - Rosli Omar RM130
The author, a passionate birder for over 20 years, decided on his retirement to photograph as wide a selection as possible of birds from Malaysian forests, particularly those that were now endangered due to poaching and deforestation. This work, recording 301 species from the lowlands, mountains and mangroves as well as forest tracks, is the result. Besides by colour photographs, each species is described with information on habitat, feeding habits, gender and subspecies differences together with a wealth of other information. New First Edition hardback 350 pages with an index.
The Birds of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, and Penang - A G Glenister RM100
This guide contains details of all the known species in the Malaysian/Thailand peninsula when the book was originally issued in 1951. Not only does it contain simple identification help in the text but also coloured plates of most of the species and line drawings of the remainder. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.282 pages. Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket First Edition
Living with Plants: A Gardening Guide for Singapore and Malaysia - Amy and John Ede RM200
Probably one of the best gardening guides for Malaysia and Singapore, written in the last 50 years or so. The book is not only practical, but caters for gardeners tackling both big and small gardens, those who just want house plants and those brave enough to want to design gardens. 83 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket
Malaysia & Singapore - Fiction
Embun dan Tanah - Ibrahim Omar RM150One of the National Laureate's better known novels .Very Good Paperback. First Edition 250 pages
Lord Jim - Joseph Conrad RM50
Conrad's classic tale of adventure and romance set in the Malay Archipelago. Very Good Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1900. 273 pages with an introduction and notes by Susan Jones.
The Professor - Faisal Tehrani RM60
Originally published in Bahasa Malaysia in 2017, this novel narrates the struggles of a feminist professor in the midst of Islamic fundamentalism in Malaysia. Her views are strengthened during her studies in the United States and Europe and put to the test when she returns home to be caught up in violence from conservative groups opposed to her activism and sexuality. New Paperback. First English Language Edition. 321 pages with a bibliography.
Tiger's Moon - Charles Shuttleworth RM130
This is a story about a vendetta between Balang of the Semai aboriginal people of Malaysia's rain forests and 'The Old One', a near mythical tiger that decimated Balang's family. The story was told to the author by Balang and expanded into a novella as a paean to 'the wonder and beauty of the great green solitudes that are the forests of Malaysia.' Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 123 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - History
A History of Malaya - RO Winstedt RM200
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. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Third Revised Edition. 297 pages with nine black and white plates, a bibliography, an index and eight appendices including four genealogies of Malay royal houses.
History of Malaya, 1400-1959 - Joginder Singh Jessy RM200
The first updated edition of this school text book that was required reading for students of the history of the country in the immediate years after independence. 346 pages with a bibliography, an index and some black and white plates. Very Good Reprint of the 1964 revised edition
Malaya - Victor Purcell RM70
An introduction to the British colony of Malaya written by a seasoned colonial official. 151 pages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. Very Good Hardback in a Good Dust Jacket. Reprint
Malaysia and Ceylon: A Study of Two Developing Countries - Yael Levy RM100
An interesting study of the impact of British colonialism on two Asian countries, both of which were subject to hereditary rule and had mainly agricultural economies when the British arrived. He concludes by comparing each country's political development leading up to and after independence. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 40 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - History (Pre-18th Century)
Sejarah Melayu/Malay Annals - CC Brown (Trans) RM400As Brown states in his preface, The Malay Annals/Sejarah Melayu are considered to be one of the finest pieces of literature in the Malay language. It chronicles the history of the Melaka sultanate from its founding until it succumbed to the Portuguese in 1511. The translation is based on the the version acquired by Stamford Raffles, known as Raffles MS no.18 or Raffles Manuscript 18, which is considered the oldest and most faithful to the original. Very Good Paperback. Reprinted from Volume 25, Parts 2 & 3 of the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 276 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore History (20th Century)
Patriots & Pretenders: The Malayan Peoples' Independence Struggle-Kua Kia Soong RM80This indefatigable author now turns his attention to the history of the country's freedom struggle against the British and Japanese. In doing so he seeks to write a history from the perspective of the common man and woman, in contrast with the more traditional history which concentrates on the western educated Malaysian elites groomed to take over without rocking the boat too much. Much of the author's work is based on British historical archives of the time. 159 pages including a bibliography. New Paperback. First Edition
The Origins of Malayan Communism - CF Yong RM70
Malayan Communism is best known for its role in undermining the Japanese occupation of Malaya and its role in leading the insurgency that disrupted life in the country in the years immediately after the end of the Second World War. In this book, the author delves into the lesser known aspects of the movement, i.e. its origins, which began as anarcho-communism in the early 20th century and went through many transformations before gaining a foothold in the trade unions in the mid 1930s. The work is based not only on Chinese and English language archives but on interviews with participants in the movement. New Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1997. 312 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Kedah
Enchanting Langkawi - David Bowden RM50A well illustrated and informative guide to one of Malaysia's more popular tourist resorts which has also been designated as a UNESCO World Geopark. New Paperback 80 pages with an index
Kelantan
History of Kelantan, 1890-1940 - Shahril Talib RM170From the late 18th century to the early 20th century the Malay state of Kelantan was loosely governed by neighbouring Siam. However British intervention transferred the state to its own loose control in the Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909. The author traces the political and administrative development of the state from the late Thai period until the arrival of the Japanese. Please see scanned photos for a list of the chapters.236 pages including a bibliography index, tables and copies of primary sources. For further details, please see the scanned contents page. New Paperback Reprint. Originally published in 1995
What I Saw in Malaya: Lectures 1934-1938 - Jeanne Cuisinier RM50
This book is a collection of impressions by a French ethnologist, who visited Malaya in the 1930s, working mainly in Kelantan. The main body of the book is a translation of a series of six radio lectures given on her return. The book also includes a lecture at the Royal Asiatic Society and a selection of her notes giving some background as to how she worked. New Paperback. First English edition. 153 pages with several black and white photographs.
Malaysia & Singapore - Language & Linguistics
Bunga Bahasa : Mengandongi huraian-huraian yang lengkap berhubong dengan kata-kata simpolan, kias-ibarat, sindiran dan perumpamaan, serta dengan chontoh-chontoh-nya sakali – Abdullah Sidek RM400Sidek, a prolific author in Malay in the the mid 20th century, here turns his literary skills to explain Malay usage of language whether it be metaphors, sarcasm or other literary techniques. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 391 pages with over 1,000 entries.
Malay Proverbs - Bidal Melayu - A. W. Hamilton RM70
A collection of about two hundred Malay proverbs that were common in the 1930s together with with English translations. The Malay Rumi script predates the 1972 spelling reforms. Near Fine Paperback. Reprint. Originally published in 1937. 111 pages with a vocabulary
Malaysia & Singapore - Literature
Hikayat Musang Berjanggut - Abdullah H Musa Lubis RM190This story of Raja Shariman Shah, a man without children, adopting Kamalul Arifin has become a Malay classic. The story has also been the inspiration for films, Including one starring P. Ramlee. Very Good Paperback 102 pages including notes.
Mengembara Ka-Andalusia -Harun Aminurrashid RM200
The author, a leading light of Malay literary culture in the mid 20th century, recounts his experiences on his 1961 visit to Spain and Portugal. Very Good Paperback in a Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 350 pages with a few black and white and colour plates.
Panduan Mempelajari dan Chernaan: Nur dan Ros/ Darah Kedayan - Muhammad Said & Lela Kenchana RM100
A study guide for two of Harun Aminurrashid's novels, Nur dan Ros and Darah Kedayan. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 85 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - Malay Community & Culture
Concept of a Hero in Malay Society - Shaharuddin b Maaruf RM70The author sets out to question whether the mythical heroes of Malay literature were always driven by the honourable motives attributed to them. He wonders about inherent contradictions between certain fundamental values and whether their often feudal nature helps build appropriate role models for the present day. By doing so he hopes to provoke Malays into 'taking a closer look at themselves and their social, political, economic and cultural values.' Good Paperback. First Edition. 140 pages For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
The Malays - Anthony Milner RM140
One of the leading historians of the Malay peninsula and archipelago, not only undertakes a broad ranging review of the people of the area, their history and culture, but also examines the changing nature of Malay identity through the ages. Please see the scan of the contents page for further details. 293 pages. New Paperback
Melaka
Naning in Melaka - Jonathan Cave RM220The author first became interested in the 220 square mile area of Naning, in the Northern part of the State of Melaka, while he was a colonial civil servant during the last days of British colonial rule in the area. While there and subsequently, his research has enabled him to compile this detailed local history of the area and the customs of the inhabitants that had developed during that history. Near Fine Hardback
Malaysia - Orang Asli/Indigenous Peoples
Tales of a Shaman: Jah Hut Myths - Duncan Holaday & Others RM50In 1970 the author was welcomed into the home of Batin Long bin Hok, the headman and shaman of a Jah Hut aboriginal community in Pahang. Over many hours Holaday carefully recorded the community's myths and practices, from which Batin Long bin Hok made the selection for this book as a faithful representation of the Jah Hut beliefs and values. The four stories are in both a transliteration of the Jah Hut language and in English. Very Good Hardback. First Edition. 115 pages.
Penang
City Eye on George Town - Tan Wan Shing & Others RM70A selection of articles, previously published in the magazine Penang City Eye, highlighting the city's attractions, from its food to its buildings and the culture of its different communities. It serves as a handy guide book to some of the plus points of living in George Town that could otherwise be missed. The book is compiled by Penang residents. New Paperback. First Edition. 201 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page
Early Penang & The Rise of Singapore 1805-1832 - CD Cowan (ed) RM150
This collection of transcriptions of the original manuscript documents was originally assembled by Cowan to provide students at the University of Malaya with a solid core of original sources for their work. They were later published by the MBRAS for the benefit of a wider readership. The documents show that the reasons why Penang's original supremacy gave way to Singapore are quite complex - a result of a mix of commercial, political and personal influences. Very Good Paperback. First Edition 210 pages with a map and an index.
The Chinese in Penang -Pictorial History - Tan Kim Hong RM550
With over 700 illustrations including photographs of the time and other historical documents and maps, the author meticulously demonstrates the role of the overseas Chinese in the development of Penang from a minor British colonial trading post to Malaysia's second city. The book's text is in both Chinese and English. Near Fine Hardback. First Edition pp. 238. Chapters include 1 - Early Immigration and Population Growth, 2 - Social organisations, 3 - Economic Activities, 4 - Political Orientation, 5 - Schools and Education & 6 - Religious Life. There is both a Chinese and an English Bibliography.
The Penang House and the Straits Architect, 1887-1941 - Jon Sun Hock Lim RM220
A Penang born architect, having spent three decades lecturing at the National University of Singapore's School of Architecture, in this book presents his working life's work, i.e. a detailed study of the domestic architecture of the wealthy during the heyday of its colonial period. His informed text is supported by a wealth of current and historic photographs and building plans. 186 pages Please see the scan of the contents page for further details.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion - Chan Suan Choo RM200
One of Penang's must see sights is the Penang Peranakan mansion, which is not only a well-preserved and restored example of the opulent houses that Penang businessmen have been building for themselves for a couple of centuries, but also home to a wide range of 19th and early 20th century Straits Chinese domestic ware from the showy to the practical. So this book has lots for those facinated by all aspects of past Penang Straits Chinese life. 179 pages. With chapters on 1 - The Chinese Kapitan, 2 - Hai Kee Chan Office & Residence, 3 - The Restoration, 4 - Additional Structures, 5 -The Peranakans, 6 - The Peranakan House, 7 - The Straits Chinese Collection. There is a bibliography and the book is illustrated with arcgitectural drawings, several colour and a few black and white plates. New Hardback in a New Dust Jacket. First Edition. 179 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - Poetry
Dove on Fire: Poems on Peace, Justice and Ecology - Cecil Rajendra RM70A collection of eighty poems by one of Malaysia's best known poets internationally. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 82 pages.
Malaysia & Singapore - Politics
The End of Barisan Nasional? : Malaysian Political Issues - Kua Kia Soong RM50In his usual incisive style the author seeks to dismantle the monolith of the Barisan Nasional coalition by demonstrating that its uninterrupted rule since independence has resulted in Malaysia being 'freer at independence' than when the book was published. He argues for a different vision of the country, one that incorporates democratic planning, direct action and popular participation in a root and branch reform of society. New Paperback. First edition. 200 pages.
Vietnam-Malaysia: Relations During the Cold War, 1945-1990 - Danny Wong Tze-Ken RM60
Being in the Southeast Asian region, Malaysia was not a complete bystander during the Vietnam conflict. Professor Wong, a specialist on Vietnamese history, traces the evolution of relations, that were intermittent at first, but developed in strength following the disengagement of the United States from Vietnam and both Malaysia and Vietnam's common interest in the Spratly Islands. Fine Paperback. First Edition 210 pages. with a bibliography and index
Malaysia & Singapore - Religion
Engaging Christianity: A Travelogue of Peace - Mujahid Yusof Rawa RM50This is a book that confounds stereotypes, i.e. it is by one of the leading lights of PAS, the main Islamist political party in Malaysia, about his quest for dialogue with Christians. The author was chosen as the first Chairman of the Southeast Asia Forum and Network for Interfaith Peace in 2011. Here he chronicles and explains the motivation behind his important work. Very Good Paperback. First Edition. 179 pages
Malaysia & Singapore - 'The Emergency'
Behind Barbed Wire: Chinese New Villages During the Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960 - Tan Teng Phee RM90Based on British army experience in the Boer War, and later taken up by the United States in Vietnam, villagers deemed to be potential supporters of the guerrilla forces during the Malayan 'Emergency', were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in 'New Villages.', where they could be more closely monitored by the Government forces. In this book, based on an award winning doctoral thesis, the author retells the villagers experiences backed up by extensive archival and oral research. New Paperback. First Edition. 318 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Malaysia & Singapore - World War II
The Fall of Singapore - Frank Owen RM60Asia
Architectural Conservation in Islam: Case Study of the Prophet's Mosque - Syed Ahmad Iskandar Syed Ariffin RM70In this book the author looks at the development of Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, over a period of one thousand years. By examining the enlargement and renovation activities over the years, he highlights the Qur'an and Shari'ah based principles which he believes guided the architects. Based on these, he advocates a system of Islamic architectural conservation. 166 pages with a glossary, list of references and an index. New Paperback
Diaspora: The Story of the South Asian Muslim Diaspora in Southeast Asia Today - Farish A Noor RM300
Southeast Asia, sitting between India in the West and China in the East has been a cultural melting pot since the early days of sail. In this book, the author traces the history of a little recorded, but significant, group of migrants to the area, the Indian Muslims. The book is divided into three parts dealing firstly with the various forms of Indian influence on the Malay Archipelago, then the community's adaptation to the arrival of the Europeans and concludes with their role during the sunset of empire. New Hardback. First edition 500 pages with a bibliography, index and 17 pages of black and white plates.
Tibb Nabawi on Nature Based Products - Mohd Yakub & Others (eds) RM80
A collection of papers by Malaysian academics submitted to The International Conference on Botanical Medicine Based on Sunnah Nabiwa. Tibb Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine) was medicinal advice believed to have been given by the Prophet Muhammad. The papers illustrate a wide range of uses of herbs and plants for healing. New Paperback. First Edition. 152 pages with an index
Burma/Myanmar
Burma - Women's Voices for Freedom - The Thanakha Team RM100A collection of about forty articles on Burmese women's experiences under military rule. With a foreword by Ang San Suu Kyi. Very Good First English Language Edition. Paperback. 144 pages.
China
Annotated Sources of Ming History - Wolfgang Franke & Liew-Herres Foon Ming RM600This major work is a revised and enlarged edition of the late Wolfgang Franke's An Introduction to the Sources of Ming History (1968). Liew-Herres, who reviews more than 2,500 texts, includes many works overlooked or inaccessible to Franke. Where works have been translated from Chinese into other languages, these are noted. The 1289 pages breaks the annotated texts into seven sections in the first volume dealing principally with aspects of history, biography and politics. The second volume contains chapters on foreign affairs and military organisation, geography, economics and technology. There are also indices of the authors and titles, a glossary and a bibliography. . New Hardbacks. First Edition
Chinese Hand Analysis - Terence Dukes RM70
The author demonstrates how the Chinese system of hand analysis, the Wu Hsing method, adopts a more holistic approach than the Western system generally. Its essential difference is that it is based on the five elements of earth, air, fire, water and ether, representing the physical, emotional, creative, intellectual and spiritual aspects of our characters. Very Good Paperback. 348 pages with appendices, a glossary and many line drawings
Indonesia
A Javanese Boyhood: An Ethnographic Biography - Michael Smithies RM130An unusual biography of a far from wealthy Javanese boy living in Indonesia's cultural capital of Yogjakarta, as told to the author. The book is full of insights into life in a large traditional family and into how his strict moral upbringing prepared the subject for later life, when he managed to travel, learn foreign languages and establish a career as a batik artist. He eventually returned home to settle down in his home city just as easily as he adapted to his varied experiences abroad. Good Paperback. First Edition 136 pages.
Australind - Henry Taunton RM100
This reprint of the 1903 memoir of the author's journey around nineteenth century Australia. The last 40 or so pages of this 247 page book details Taunton's experiences in pearl fishing with Malay divers in what is modern day Indonesia. Very Good Paperback
Networked: Business and Politics in Decentralizing Indonesia, 1998-2004 - Wahyu Prasetyawan RM100
After the fall of Suharto Indonesian Government policy changed to introduced a more decentralised government and economy generally. In this book the author weighs up the effects of the change on the resource rich areas of East Kalimantan, West Sumatra and Riau as local governments, multinational investors and local elites jostled to take advantage of new opportunities. New Paperback. First Edition. 200 pages. For further details, please see the scanned contents page.
Xtras
The Essential Christmas Island Travel Guide - Beth and Shaun Tierney RM130After a short introduction to the island's chequered history, the authors provide a detailed guide the inhabitants, sites to visit and activities available for visitors. Near Fine Paperback. First Edition 192 pages with an index and maps.
The Cichlids Yearbook Volume 3 - Ad Konings (ed) RM250
A detailed guide to several species of African and South American Cichlids with information contributed by 19 different experts. Good Hardback First Edition 96 pages with many colour photographs
The Complete Aquarium - Peter W Scott RM80
The book claims to be "the first book to present a systematic guide to aquaria based on freshwater and marine environments from all over the world. " Very Good Hardback in a Very Good Dust Jacket. First Edition. 191 pages with many colour illustrations, a glossary and an index.