Second edition of a remarkable Dutch-Malay and French-Malay dictionary, partially based on and translated from William Marsdens famous English-Malay dictionary, and is otherwise compiled by Cornelis Pieter Jacob Elout. The Malay words are given in both Jawi script and phonetic transcription in italics, the Dutch and French words are given in roman script. 1825 as Maleisch, Nederduitsch en Fransch woordenboek ... | Dictionnaire Malai, Hollandais et Français ... also by Johannes Enschedé and sons. Elout based his work on the foundational English-Malay dictionary of the British linguist William Marsden (1754-1836), whose pioneering work on the Malay language was an essential tool for the British East India Company in the Malay Archipelago. At the time of publication, both Dutch and French were official languages in the Netherlands, thus explaining the work being bilingual and having both a Dutch and a French title page.
Marsden embarked upon a remarkable journey of scholarship and service that began at Trinity College, Dublin. At the tender age of sixteen, he joined the British East India Company, and in 1771 he was posted to Sumatra. There, he not only advanced through the ranks but also mastered the Malay language, an achievement that would underpin much of his later work. Returning to England in 1779, Marsden earned a law degree from Oxford and, in 1783, published his landmark History of Sumatra, which earned him election to the Royal Society. Later, he served as secretary to the Admiralty, though he ultimately retired in 1807 to devote himself to scholarly pursuits.
Cornelis Pieter Jacob Elout (1795-1843) further advanced the Malay lexicography. Born in Haarlem, Elout initially prepared for a civilian career, yet his life took a decisive turn when he accompanied his father to Java in 1814. There, he distinguished himself both militarily and administratively. His involvement in quelling uprisings in Cheribon and Palembang earned him the Military William Order (the oldest and hightest honour of the Kingdom of the Netherlands), and he played a decisive role in consolidating Dutch authority over Sumatra and other islands in the region. Under the guidance of Professor Reinwardt, he attained a profound command of High Malay. This linguistic expertise informed his administrative innovations, including the establishment of a Department for Indigenous Affairs, tasked with translating and publishing Malay-language texts, regulating correspondence with local rulers, and overseeing diplomatic missions. His linguistic scholarship culminated in the publication of the work Maleische spraakkunst (1824) and the Dutch-French-Malay dictionary (1825 and 1826), which were both translations and expansions of Marsdens Grammar and dictionary of the Malay language (1812).Marsden himself acknowledged the improvements Elout had made, praising the humility with which these enhancements were incorporated.
The binding is worn, mainly around the spine and lower outer corners of the boards. Internally in good condition, some occasional (water) staining and foxing. Cordier, Indosinica, 1385; Van der Aa, "Biographisch woordenboek der Nederlanden", Deel 5 (1859), pp. 102-104.