Indonesia Sedar, 1939, dir Mr. Soenarjo [Sunarjo / Sunario Sastrowardoyo]

Mr. Soenarjo (dir)

[i.e. Sunario Sastrowardoyo / Sunaryo / Soenario / Sunarjo] 

Indonesia Sedar

Madjallah politiek dan hukum negara, dipersembahkan kepada tanah air Indonesia.

Tahoen ke-1 (1939), nn° 1, 3, 4, 5.

Makassar, Druk. Volksbelang, 1939 (20 April - 20 August, lacking May).

Set of 4 numbers (of at least 5). 27,5 (or 28,5) x 17,5 (or 18,5) cm, 4°, continuous pagination (pp. 1-12, 25-38, 39-52, 53-64), each volume (formerly) stapled under light green printed wrappers wearing on front board a nice vignette figuring a pillar (tugu). 

Very scarce collection of this very high-level nationalist monthly.

It was mostly written by Sunario (as his name is now officially spelled), a lawyer (Mr. stands here for "Master of laws") who took part in various movements fighting for the independance of Indonesia (he created the Perserikatan Nasional Indonesia, later called Partai Nasional Indonesia, along with Soekarno and others, directed at the same level as the latter the journal of the PNI, "Persatoean Indonesia", took part in the Soempah Pemoeda, has been a member of Perhimpoenan Indonesia, etc...) and was later to be a proeminent political figure of Soekarno's regime, being, between other things, a minister of Foreign Affairs and later the Indonesian ambassador in London. He was in Makassar in 1939 after being released from exile in Boven Digul.

Starting with number 3 (or maybe 2?), the monthly has for permanent collaborators : Soekarno (then in exile in Bengkulu), Mohammad Thamrin, Achmad Soebardjo, Ali Sastroamidjojo and G. R. Pantouw, to whom is added Soekardjo Wirjopranato after number 4.

The journal gives international in-depth analysis (for instance on the Versailles treaty) and news about the growing independance movement (for instance a very critical presentation of newly created Muhammad Yamin Partai Persatoean Indonesia - PARTINDO) as well as news from the nationalist fraction in the Volksraad (for instance extensive extracts from M. H. Thamrin political declaration on 11 July 1939) and excerpts from the newly published book by Soenarjo himself about Sedjarah Pergerakan Indonesia (history of Indonesian independance movement).

This publication is very rare. We didn't find any copy in known Indonesian collections worldwide except for the two first issues, which are in the National library of Indonesia collection. It has not been microformed and doesn't seem to be well known by scholars.

Staples missing, covers partly sunned, two small wormholes to first issue. Good.

200 €

Boekoe meliatin kitab Kwan Im : a sino-malay poetical fortune telling book

[Sino-malay literature / Poetry / Divination / Fortune telling / Kau cim]

Boekoe meliatin kitab Kwan Im

Batavia (Jakarta), Kwee Khe Soei, nd [ca 1930].

16,5 x 11 cm, 16°, 120 pp.stapled under orange printed and illustrated wrappers.

First edition (?) of this sino-malay divination / visionary / fortune telling / magical book written in verses.

"Boekoe meliatin" could be translated as "book of vision". It follows the Kwan Im (Kau cim / Kuan Yin) method of divination, with 30 chapters made of 25 stanzas of 4 verses. In his introduction the author says that you should not expect more than one answer to one question you ask to the book. He also states that his book contains some magic.

The book has been published after 1929 as the publishers advertises on the back cover a title that was published in 1929 and that he says is allmost out-of-print.

Damages to paper around the two staples, making the binding fragile. Still a good copy. 

25 €

Kwee Boen Hian, Penjedar, Indonesian theosophic monthly

Kwee Boen Hian (dir.)

Penjedar, nn° 51-59 (1955)

Magelang, Penjedar, nd [1955].

18,5 x 13,5 cm, tall 12°, 9 numbers of 52 pages each (including the covers) bound in one quarter-buckram volume, title on spine and on front board along with "Lie Djong Hian" supra-libris, all covers preserved.

Excellent collection of volumes of this sino-indonesian theosophic monthly.

Repeated stamps from Lie Djong Hian from Solo, whose supra-libris is also on the front board. In issue n° 52 we found a printed inset where the same Lie Djong Hian invites the readers to a lecture by Siauw Tik Tjwan and Satyapranawa at P.T.T.I. (Perhimpunan Teosofi Tjabang Indonesia) Solo on octobre 1955, with the nice stamp from P.T.T.I. loge in Solo on the verso.

Each issue wears the title of the first article, which is sometimes continued on the next issue(s). N° 51 : "Tenang menghadapi pantjaroba" (facing change with serenity) by Supadio. N° 52 : "Apakah Yoga itu?" (what is Yoga?) by R. Sastrowirjo. N° 53 : "Apakah hidup itu" (what is life?) by R. Sastrowirjo. N° 54 : "Siapa yang mebuat Karma?" (who makes karma?) by R. Sastrowirjo. N° 55 : "Bagaimanakah pendidikan didalam rumah?" (how's education at home?) by R. Sastrowirjo. N° 56 : "Apakah artinya djalan meningkat?" (what's the meaning of an ascending path?) by R. Sastrowirjo. N° 57 : "Apakah artinya murid?" (what means being a student?) by R. Sastrowirjo. N° 58 : "Apakah maksudnya hidup" (what is the meaning of life?) by Inayat Khan. N° 59 : "Apakah artinya hari Natal?" ( what's the meaning of Christmas?) by Sadhak. Numerous other articles by various authors, some translations from international theosophic writers.

Quite uncommon, especially bound and with a provenance that seems quite interesting. Some damages to the binding, else perfect: a good copy.

sold

Kotoba no tebiki, 1943 (2603). Multilingual Japanese-Malay-Javanese-Sundanese-Madurese dictionary

[Japanese / Malay / Javanese / Sundanese / Madurese Pocket Dictionary] 

Kotoba no tebiki : Nippon - Melajoe - Djawa - Soenda - Madoera

[Djakarta], Djawa Goenseikanboe, Balai Pustaka, [Kōki] 2603 [i. e. 1943].

13 x 9 cm, small 16°, 200 pp., stapled under semi-rigid printed boards. 

First and probably only edition of this multilingual dictionary or, more precisely, word guide.

It gives first on 6 columns on two pages the translation of Japanese words (written in rōmaji and kanji characters) in Malay, Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese and then, the translation in Japanese written in romanized characters of each of these languages on two columns per page. This pocket dictionary was published by the Japanese occupier of the Netherland Indies and intended both to Japanese and educated locals.

Repeated and various stamps and handwritten signature of M. Sjafingi from Solo. Uncommon Indonesia Japanese occupation imprint.

Wrappers a bit worn, some signs of wear due to the staple. Good-.

sold

Errinnophily: Indonesian road tax disc labels for Yogyakarta, 1957

[DPRD and DPD Kotapradja Jogjakarta]

[Errinnophily : Indonesian road tax disc labels]

Peraturan-peraturan dan keputusan-keputusan dari kotapradja Jogjakarta. Himpunan lembaran dan tambahan lembaran kotapradja Jogjakarta. 1957

Jogjakarta (Yogyakarta), [Yogyakarta municipality], 1957.

16 - 28 - 246 pp., 6 colored samples of road tax disc labels for non-motorised vehicles (carts - andong, handcarts - kletek, horse or buffle carts - cikar, becak, bicycles) pasted-down, softcover.

Scarce gathering of decisions of the municipal parliament and government of Yogyakarta. Very interesting for the six road tax (vehicle duty) disc labels (vignettes), which are in fine condition. Cover a bit worn, else very good.

70 €

J. Soetan Martoewa Radja: Doea Sadjoli, 1919. A scarce reder in Batak language.

J. Soetan Martoewa Radja

Doea Sadjoli. II. : Boekoe siseon ni dakdanak di sikola

Batavia [Jakarta], Landsdrukkerij, 1919.

22,5 x 14 cm, 8vo, 127 (1) pp., softcover.

First edition of this reader in Batak (Mandailing) language. It contains 29 stories, mostly folktales. A first collection was published separately in 1917. Scarce. Some very mild waterstains.

40 €

Pantjangan Pertama, pahatan lino oleh Mochtar Apin

Mochtar Apin

Pantjangan Pertama

pahatan lino oleh Mochtar Apin

Djakarta [Jakarta], Pustaka Rakjat [Pustaka Rakyat] (Gelanggang), nd (circa 1950).

21,5 x 16 cm, (3) pp. - 11 lino-cuts (out of 12), loosely inserted under a portfolio illustrated after a lino by Mochtar Apin.

One of the rare examples of Indonesian linocut, Indonesian artists being more familiar with woodcut. First book issued by the Jakarta artist group "Gelanggang", with a short notice and and a 2 pp. introduction to linocut by Mochtar Apin.

Lacks one plate, cover worn, a small central wormhole throughout each of the plates. Fair +.

sold