DIRECTIONS FOR USE

Information about important collections MSS at LUB The main collection described in this catalogue are the MSS kept at the Legatum Warnerianum of the Leidse Universiteitsbibliotheek (Leiden University Library, abbreviated to LUB). The Legatum Warnerianum began with a collection of Arabic, Persian and Turkish MSS bequeathed to the University of Leiden by Levinus Warner in 1665. Since then the collection has been enlarged by other Oriental MSS, among them those in Indonesian languages including Malay MSS. After the Koninklijke Akademie (Royal Academy) at Delft was abolished in 1864 and all the Malay and Javanese MSS were removed to Leiden, the number of Malay MSS increased substantially. And when J. Pijnappel wrote the Catalogus der Maleische Handschriften in de Bibliotheek der Leidsche Akademie (Catalogue of Malay Manuscripts at the Leiden Academy) in 1870, the Legatum Warnerianum already possessed the biggest Malay MSS collection in Europe. Since 1870 the Legatum Warnerianum was enriched with a number of smaller collections until, after the death of H.N. van der Tuuk (1894) the then biggest collection was acquired. In 1899, when the Catalogus van Maleische en Sundaneesche Handschriften (Catalogue of Malay and Sundanese Manuscripts) by H.H. Juynboll appeared, this collection was included with the exception of the Minangkabau MSS. After the publication of Juynboll’s catalogue other bigger collections were acquired by the LUB. Before he moved from Indonesia to Leiden (1906) C. Snouck Hurgronje sent a collection of MSS, mainly from Banten, to the library. This is followed by another collection, mainly from Aceh, after his return to Holland. Following his death (1935) this collection is bequeathed to the library. Another big collection put together by Prof. Ch.A. van Ophuysen was donated to the LUB by his widow (1917). This collection consists mainly of Malay and Minangkabau MSS. Later on the collection of J.A.W. van Ophuysen, mainly acquired at Solok (Minangkabau), was given to LUB on loan by the Ministry of Colonial Affairs. The collection of H.C. Klinkert, who collected the MSS in Riau in the service of the Nederlandsch Bijbel Genootschap (Dutch Bible Society), too was given to the LUB on loan in 1915. These four main collections, besides other MSS acquired after 1899, are described in the Supplement-Catalogus der Maleische en Minangkabausche Handschriften in de Leidsche Universiteits-Bibliotheek (Supplement-Catalogue of Malay and Minangkabau Manuscripts in the Leiden University Library) by Ph.S. van Ronkel (1921). Letters and South Sumatran MSS have not been described in existing catalogues.