The core of this collection contains the surviving correspondence of Terengganu’s ruler, Tengku Omar Ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah I, Sultan Terengganu Darul Iman IX, (1839-1876) also known as Baginda Omar.
It consists of 55 original letters and one official proclamation written in Jawi in the collection, with the core documents comprising both official and private correspondence. Documenting five turbulent decades (1844-1893) in Terengganu’s history, the letters range from diplomatic missives (from Siam, Kelantan, Pahang, Johor, Riau, Dutch and British) and family memoranda to business instructions and political intelligences. This collection offers a vivid glimpse into this significant chapter of Terengganu’s and Malaysia’s history while providing an illuminating look at the political intrigues of the various Malay courts during the advent of Western influence and dominance in the region. From a philological perspective, the importance of this collection cannot be overstated. The wealth of calligraphic styles, linguistic features, and seal imprints found in such concentration enables us to fill major gaps in our knowledge of 19th -century Malay epistolography and codicology. Besides, they enable us to understand Terengganu’s history during Baginda Omar’s reign as well as amplifying the history of the growth of Malay scribal activity in the region.