Manuscripts

Manuscripts, Archives and Letters

Coptic words in Pallas’ Universal dictionary

The Coptic collection in the Leiden University Libraries throws light on the way a Prussian scholar compiled a ‘universal dictionary’ for a Russian Empress in a time that comparative linguistics was still in its infancy.

Vincent Wintermans • 13-04-2026

Asian Special Collections

Two 17th century Chinese-Portuguese dictionaries digitized

The Leiden Library Asian Collection hosts, under the shelfmarks Or. 1929 a and Or. 1929 b two Chinese Portuguese dictionaries. These have now been made available in digital form. María Teresa González Linaje explains what they teach us about the early linguistic contacts between China and the West.

Guest author • 16-07-2025

Asian Special Collections

Tracing the lost Royal Manuscripts of Palembang

During the 19th century colonial wars the library of the rulers of Palembang in Sumatra was looted by British and Dutch troops; its manuscripts were transported to other places and some of them are lost. Alan Darmawan visited Leiden to look for traces of some of these mishandled treasures.

Guest author • 12-05-2025

Manuscripts, Archives and Letters · Maps and Atlases

Sailing to Asia

The Western manuscripts collection contains valuable treasures leading their readers to the Asian continent. Eleven historical travel journals are now digitized.

Mart van Duijn • 21-12-2017

Blogs

Coptic words in Pallas’ Universal dictionary

Two 17th century Chinese-Portuguese dictionaries digitized

Tracing the lost Royal Manuscripts of Palembang

Sailing to Asia