A gathering of rare, ancient Malay manuscripts

Visitors taking a closer look at an artefact featured in the Tales Of The Malay World: Manuscripts And Early Books exhibition at the National Library in Singapore. Photo: The Straits Times/ANN

Even in dim light, the gold leaf and jewel hues of the Taj Al-Salatin gleam.

This 19th-century copy of the 17th-century text, the title of which translates to The Crown Of Kings, has spent years in the collection of the British Library. Now, it has finally returned to the part of the world where it came into being.