Katalog des Ethnographischen Reichsmuseums

Complete set in 23 volumes of the extensive catalog of the collections of the Rijks Ethnographisch Museum in Leiden, presenting ethnographic material from a broad range of peoples and tribes from the Pacific Islands, mainly those of present-day Indonesia, volumes range from 166-248 pp. each, profusely illustrated, some in color. Small quarto (10 1/8 x 7 1/8 inches). Dark green cloth with gold-stamped covers and spines, original wrappers bound in. Very light toning, chipping, some scattered minor foxing, overall excellent. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1909-1932. This important series, edited by Dr. H.H. Juynboll (1867-1946), director of the museum, and H.W. Fischer, was described in Dr. Juynboll's obituary, published in the February 1946 issue of the Far East Quarterly, as "a Catalogue of the Museum's collections from Indonesia and from the Philippines. This Catalogue, comprising twenty-three volumes, richly illustrated and lavishly annotated with bibliographical references, is unique in its way, no other ethnographical museum ever having published its collections with similar completeness and minuteness of detail. Any ethnologist or archeologist [sic] interested in the region will find it a mine of valuable information."

The volumes in the series are as follows: I-II. Borneo; III. Catalogus der Bibliotheek; IV. Die Inseln Ringsum Sumatra; V. Javanische Altertumer; VI. Atjeh, Gajo- und Alaslander; VII. Bali und Lombok; VIII. Bataklander; IX. Java; X. Mittel-Sumatra; XI. Java; XII. Sud-Sumatra; XIII. Java; XIV. Sumatra-Supplement; XV. Java; XVI. Celebes; XVII. Die Ostlichen Kleinen Sunda-Inseln. Sumbawa-Flores-Sumba; XVIII-XIX. Celebes; XX. Philppinen; XXI-XXIII. Molukken.

The volumes showcase a broad range of ethnographic material, emphasizing the material culture and iconography of each region, including tools, weapons, basketry, sculptures, textiles such as batik and ikat, costume, ornaments, masks, toys, puppets including Wayang Golek and Kulit, and dwellings. They are profusely illustrated with numerous text illustrations throughout, mainly from drawings, and hundreds of plates from photographs of objects, with approximately 11 plates in full color. The volumes are also fully annotated with lists, indices, and bibliographic information. A rare complete set of this remarkable compendium, written during the Dutch colonial occupation of Indonesia.