Title: Nova tabula insularum Java, Sumatra, Borneonis et aliarum Mallaccam usquae, delineata in insula Java, Ubi ad Vivum designantur vada et Brevia [map].
Author: Theodor de Bry 1528-1598.
Publisher: Frankfurt : 1598
Call Number: Item Not Available for loan

Housed at the Rare Materials Collection (level 13), this rare map shows Malaya, Singapore, Sumatra, Java and Borneo by Theodore de Bry, 1598 and is the oldest map in NLB's collection.

Title: Malay Annals
Translated from the Malay language by John Leyden ; with an introduction by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles
Publisher: London : [Longman] 1821
Call Number: RRARE 959.503 MAL, Microfilm copy shelved at: NL25782

The subjects covered in The Malay Annals, or the Serajah Melayu, include the founding of Malacca and its relationship with neighbouring kingdoms, the advent and spread of Islam in the region, the history of the royalty in the region and the administrative hierarchy of the sultanate. It was believed to have been first compiled and edited by Tun Seri Lanang, the bendahara (equivalent to the prime minister of a sultanate) of the Royal Court of Johor in 1612. Originally written in classical Malay language in the Jawi script.

The first translation into English was made by John Leyden, a famous scholar in his days, and a friend and mentor to Stamford Raffles. Unfortunately he died before this was published and it fell to his friend, Stamford Raffles to arrange for publication in 1821.

This translation, strongly influenced by the romantic movement of the late 18th century and interaction between Malay and European culture of that period. is essential reading for students of Malay literature. The Serajah Melayu is considered as one of the finest classic Malay literature and one of the most important works in Malay history. It is the only available account of the history of the Malay Sultanate in the fifteenth and early sixteenth century, and is therefore a vital source of information for scholars in various fields including sociology, anthropology, economics, politics, international relations, linguistics and literature.

Title: Straits Times almanack, calendar and directory
Publisher: Singapore : Straits Times Press, 1846-69
Call Number: RRARE 382.09595 STR year 1846-52, also available on Microfilm

The first directory published in 1846 and popularly called the Straits Times Directory; this is the earliest Singapore directory. The compiler was Robert Carr Woods, law agent, advocate, notary public, editor and proprietor of The Straits Times. The directory contains an alphabetical listing of the names and addresses of residents on the island as well as their professions. Also includes residents in other places within the Straits Settlements and Malaya. Includes brief information on Singapore such as Calendar, dates of festivals and events. This is the first annual directory published in Singapore.

Title: The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia
Author: J.R. Logan (ed.)
Publisher: Singapore : J. R. Logan, 1847-1855
Call Number: RRARE 950.05 JOU, Microfilm copy shelved at: NL25704 (Index), NL25790 (Vol. 2), NL25791 (Vol. 3), NL25792 (Vol. 4), NL25793 (Vol. 5), NL25794 (Vol. 6), NL25796 (Vols. 7-8), NL25797 (Vol. 9)

Logan's Journal, as it was known then, after its editor, James Richardson Logan, was the first scholarly periodical to be published in the Straits Settlements. It contained articles on ethnology, geography, geloogy, history and the literature of the archipelago. Many early official documents, of which the originals have since disappeared, were included in various numbers.

Title: Hikayat Abdullah
Author: Munshi Abdullah Abdul Kadir, 1796-1854
Publisher: London : H.S. King, 1874
Call Number: RRARE 959.5 ABD, Microfilm copy shelved at: NL2905, NL25434

This is the autobiography of Munshi Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir. It was written in Jawi, between 1840 and 1843, and published in 1849. Munshi Abdullah was the interpreter and scribe to Singapore’s founder, Sir Stamford Raffles. Abdullah wrote about the events of his life relating to the activities in Singapore, which was slowly transforming from a sleepy fishing village into a major center of world trade.

In short, his autobiography gives an insight into 19th century Malay life in Malacca and Singapore. Munshi Abdullah is considered to be the father of modern Malay literature as his writing departs from the traditional Malay literary style, by writing in a colloquial language. This is a first edition and is very rare. It was produced by the printing technique of lithography, in Abdullah's own hand according to Shellabear (1896). It is an important source on Singapore's early history.

Title: Irathinasurukkam
Author: Syed Muhamad Haneefathul Kadri & Shahgu Muhamad Abdul Kadri.
Publisher: Singapore : Syed Printing House, 1878
Call Number: Item Not Available for loan

This is a religious text, which expounds the teachings of the Koran. It is written in Tamil with a liberal use of Arabic terms. This is currently the earliest Tamil book published in Singapore held by NLB.

Title: Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society
Publisher: Singapore : Straits Branch, Royal Asiatic Society, 1878-1922
Call Number: RRARE 959.5 JMBRAS, Microfilm copy shelved at: NL25419

A scholarly periodical published by the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, a learned society devoted to the task of collecting, recording and diffusing information about the region. The periodical first appeared in 1878 and underwent a change of name in 1922 to Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, then Malaysian Branch of the Royal Society, hence the ubiquitous reference to it as "JMBRAS". Over the years the periodical published numerous pioneer articles on a wide variety of subjects - Culture, History, Literature, Anthropology, Archaeology, Botany, Zoology, etc. Amongst its list of contributors are notable scholars like W.E. Maxwell, R.O. Winstedt, R.J. Wilkinson, R. Braddell and H.N. Ridley. It remains today one of the leading journals on Southeast Asian studies.

Title: An anecdotal history of old times in Singapore : (with portraits and illustrations) from the foundation of the settlements under the Honourable the East India Company, on February 6th, 1819, to the transfer of the Colonial Office as part of the colonial possessions of the Crown on April 1st, 1867.
Author: Charles Burton Buckley, 1844-1912.
Publisher: Singapore : Printed by Fraser & Neave, 1902
Call Number: RRARE 959.57 BUC, Microfilm copy shelved at: NL269

A narration of Singapore's history from its founding to 1867. The author discovered the original Treaty made between the Temengong of Johore and Sir Stamford Raffles of 16 February 1819. It contains a veritable mine of information on all aspects of British administration and society in the island colony. It is particularly valuable to the scholar because it includes numerous and extensive quotations from all kinds of sources, many of which are no longer extant. The Anecdotal History is now a standard reference for the study of British Singapore's early history.

A collection of newspapers from early Singapore, including The Straits Times, whose collection starts from the very first issue of the paper in 1845.
Samples: Straits Times - First issue of the Straits Times, published more than 150 years ago. Newspapers are an important source of information on Singapore's history.

The letter was written during Raffles’ brief stay in Singapore, stating that "this very centrical and commanding station has had every success, and our port is already crowded with shipping from all the native ports in the archipelago."