The MALAYSIANS: 50 COLOR PLATES/SINGAPORE MALAYSIA/1963 HOESSIEN ENAS

MALAYSIANS.  THE SHELL COMPANY OF THE FEDERATION OF MALAYA LIMITED. Singapore: Malaya Publishing House, Ltd., 1963.   First Edition.  Scarce.  

A nice First Edition copy of this scarce and beautifully-illustrated book. With more than 50 full-page color illustrated plates by the late Hoessien Enas aka Father of Malaysian Portrait Artist showing the peoples and cultures of Malaysia in commemorating the formation of MALAYSIA on September 16 1963. Published more than 45 years ago in Singapore, this book is now long out of print and scarce. A must for collectors of anything Malaysia especially the visual art.

From the Foreword (By Tunku Abdul rahman Putra, the Prime Minister of Malaysia):

"I am very pleased with the publication of this book about Malaysia, as I find it interesting, informative and useful.  Malaysia is a nation of wide and colourful variety, with people of many racs, creeds and cultures.  In effect this book is a mirror of Malaysia, showing in a striking way typical malaysians at work and play, what they wear, how they look and what they do, all seen through the eyes of a Malayan artist.  I should like to express my appreciation of the Shell Gourp of Companies for their initiative and enterprise in producing this colourful book, which should prove very popular with friends of Malaysia all over the world."

From the Preface (By Mr. Fakes, Chairman of the Shell Group Companies in Malaysia): "It may seem odd to some people that an organization such as ours should produce this book.  It is not that we are at any time averse to publicising our own activities and attitudes.  Indeed, we are proud of the role we are privileged to play in the commercial and industrial life of the countries in which we serve.  We, Shell people in Malaysia, feel however that this is an appropriate occasion on which to show our appreciation of the countries in which we live, and the people with whom we work. 

"In this book we seek to record some of those peoples who will be members of the new Malaysian family, and especially the gay and colourful costumes which they wear in their every day lives, in their traditional ceremonies, or as distinctive outward signs of their occupations.  The great variety of these pictures may, perhaps, remind us of the richness in diversity which is so characteristic of the new federation.  It is hoped that the bringing of these together here may symbolize that unity of life and purpose which will surely make for Malaysia a place amongst the nations of the world."

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Large Quarto- sized hardcover book; 110 pages of full-page, full-colour illustrations with accompanying text.  Very Good condition book: no torn or missing pages, some writing on the half-title page, no ownership markings. Original binding with light wear and slight fraying to corners and spinetips.  A solid and attractive copy of this scarce book.

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