Dick van der Meij (Ph.D. Leiden 2002) has published editions and translations of Balinese, Malay, and Javanese texts and articles on Indonesian literature and manuscripts. His latest work is an edition and translation (with N. Lambooij) of the Malay Hikayat Mi’raj Nabi Muḥammad (Brill, 2014).

“This is a masterpiece of codicology, the like of which I have never encountered before. It is a comprehensive work of reference by a master of the subject with unparalleled expertise, presenting and preserving a vast knowledge.” – Prof. M.C. Ricklefs, Professor Emeritus, The Australian National University “This is a very interesting and original book on Indonesian manuscripts, by someone with a very wide and deep knowledge of the subject, clearly accumulated over a long period of time."– Annabel Teh Gallop, Lead Curator for Southeast Asia, British Library, London"With its publication, this book became an indispensable tool for all those with an interest in the manuscript traditions of Indonesia, including those not falling within its specific geographical and cultural bailiwick. The somewhat conglomerative make-up of the book in no way detracts from its value (...) Here we have an assortment of assay tools gathered in this one hefty volume, a one-stop compilation of reference and research tools of the sort that until now have only existed in the form of field notes and personal research databases assembled individually (and rarely circulated) by scholars working in the field. Dr. van der Meij has provided in an instant a point of reference that all English-speaking investigators can use and cite as the field of Indonesian codicology, nearly unknown three decades ago, continues its rise to prominence amongst domestic and international scholars." – Timothy E. Behrend, in BEFEO 104 (2018)."Van der Meij bravely tackles a great many issues belonging to an immense field of study, more often than not breaking completely new ground. The fact cannot be lauded enough that in doing so, Van der Meij concretely discusses all kinds of aspects pertaining to the manuscripts of 'the Javanese-inspired world' with the help of photographs. This is a tremendous premium, because hitherto studies of Indonesian philology rarely contain images of the manuscripts under discussion." – E.P. Wieringa, University of Colone, in Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde 174 (2018).

• AcknowledgementsList of IllustrationsList of TablesNotes to the ReaderlAbbreviationslivGeneral IntroductionThe Present BookLanguagesScriptManuscripts in ArabicMultiple Languages and Scripts in ManuscriptsThe Chapters in the BookTopics not Discussed in the Book1 ManuscriptsManuscripts as Physical ObjectsComplete and Incomplete ManuscriptsIntact, Damaged and Repaired ManuscriptsOld and New ManuscriptsIllustrated and Illuminated ManuscriptsNaturalistic Figure DepictionThe Natural World in Javanese IllustrationsIlluminationsWĕdanaCommissioned ManuscriptsPersonal ManuscriptsLarge and Small Manuscripts‘Authentic’ Manuscripts‘Fake’ ManuscriptsManuscript Quality, Beautiful and Ugly ManuscriptsNumbers of Manuscripts, Popularity of TextsCollective VolumesFragments of Other Texts in ManuscriptsTitlesMultiple Titles2 Access to ManuscriptsPublic Collections of Indonesian ManuscriptsSemi-Public CollectionsPrivate CollectionsLost ManuscriptsMicrofilms and Digital ManuscriptsBlogs, Portals, Social Media and Digital Search MachinesCatalogs3 Lontar and Gěbang (Nipah) ManuscriptsLontar ManuscriptsProtective CoversThe Writing ProcessNumbering in Lontar ManuscriptsText in LontarMaarti TextsGĕbang (Nipah) Manuscripts4 Verse, Verse Meters and Their IndicationsVerse StructuresPage Lay-Out of Texts in Tĕmbang MacapatSasmitaning TĕmbangKidungKakawinJavanese Syi’ir5 Mistakes and Corrections in ManuscriptsWriters’ Own Indications of MistakesLevels of MistakesIndications of Mistakes and CorrectionsMistakes Indicated and Corrected During Writing or AfterwardsCorrections and Additional Notes and Editions of Texts6 Dating and CalendarsThe Javanese Calendar7 ColophonsManuscripts Copied with the Original ColophonColophons in Javanese Texts from JavaColophons in Old and Middle Javanese TextsColophons Added to ColophonsPersonal and General Information in Balinese ColophonsChanges in Colophons Over TimeColophons in Balinese Manuscripts in BalineseColophons in Sasak and Javanese Manuscripts from LombokColophon as Part of the Text or Not?Excuses for Mistakes and Poor Workmanship8 Other Information on Dating and OwnershipManuscript Gifts to ScholarsOwnership Information on Separate Pages Preceding or after the TextPersonal Information on the Fore-Edge of the Book BlockLibrary and Ownership StampsLabelsOther Indications of OwnershipSignaturesHidden Names of Authors and the Places where They LiveName Hidden in IlluminationsPre-Printed PaperAppendix 1 Candra Sangkala in ManuscriptsAppendix 2 Alternative Names for Macapat MetersAppendix 3 Pada Marks in Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese ManuscriptsAppendix 4 Sasmita Salinining Tĕmbang from Java, Lombok, Bali and SundaAppendix 5 Sasmita Wiwitaning Tĕmbang in Javanese Texts from JavaAppendix 6 Verse Schemes of the Most Encountered Verse Meters in Bali According to I Gusti Putu JlantikAppendix 7 Kakawin Verse MetersAppendix 8 Table to Calibrate the Javanese and Arabic Years to the Gregorian Calendar According to Djidwal 1932GlossaryManuscripts QuotedBibliographyIndex