Explore a snapshot of an early 20th‑century library catalog.
This page from the Catalogue of the Raffles Library, Singapore (1900) lists hundreds of titles with authors, formats, and shelf codes, giving a vivid sense of how the collection was organized and accessed.
What you’ll see is a wide range of topics and literary forms, from classic novels and tales to reference works, histories, and biographies. Each entry includes the author and a catalog shorthand that hints at its place in the library. The mix reflects a bustling, internationally connected collection typical of a colonial-era research library.
- A diverse catalog of fiction, including well‑known novels and serialized works from many authors.
- Entries for non‑fiction and reference materials across history, biography, languages, and literature.
- Examples of library organization through codes, call numbers, and short notes guiding readers to volumes and editions.
- A historical glimpse into how a major library prepared and presented its holdings for study and lending.
Ideal for readers curious about library history, scholars studying cataloging practices, or anyone interested in the scope of a colonial-era collection.