This is a complete, unillustrated series in 13 parts of the story, 大明正德 皇游江南传 (dà míng zhèng dé huáng yóu jiāng nán zhuàn) by Qing period author, He Mengmei (何梦梅) translated into 'low Malay' ("bahasa Melajoe rendah"). The story tells of how Ming Emperor Zhengde travelled incognito in southern China, particularly Suzhou, and discovered the true state of corruption and sedition among his advisers. This series was published by Kantoor Tjitak Lie Tek Long (Lie Tek Long Printing Office) located at Pintoe Besar Batavia, a historic street also known as Nieuwpoort Straat by the Dutch in the heart of Kota Tua, the historic quarter of today’s Jakarta. The books also bear the stamp of the seller, “Boekhandel & Drukkerij Tan Thian Soe” or Tan Thian Soe Bookstore & Printing Company, also located in Batavia. The translator, Liem Liep Lee, was from Tegal, one of the larger cities along the north coast of Java, underscoring the presence and settlement of Chinese Peranakan communities outside of Batavia/Jakarta.
