Kuala Lumpur: 100 Years.: Centenary, 1859-1959.

Kuala Lumpur: Municipal Council,, 1959. First edition, first printing, scarce in commerce, of the first book-length history of Kualu Lumpur. This copy was sent by the municipal secretary to Gordon P. T. Peters (1929-c.2020), a leading member of the philatelic Malaya Study Group for over half a century. This work celebrates Britain's colonial administration of Kuala Lumpur, its status as the federation's leading city, and its ongoing prosperity post-independence. Thematic chapters describe its modern way of life including communications, schools, utilities, and sports clubs. Loosely inserted is a typed letter signed, dated 13 February 1961, from the office of Secretary Mohamed Din bin Ali to Peters, together with Ali's compliments slip. Faint traces of Peters's later ownership inscription are visible on the title page. In 1959, one year after its founding, Peters joined the Malaya Study Group, "the specialist society for collectors of the stamps, postal stationery and postal history of the states of Peninsular Malaysia plus territories formerly administered by the Straits Settlements", as well as for those interested in "overprinted Straits Settlements stamps used in the British Post Office in Bangkok" (official website). He edited the group's journal, The Malayan Philatelist, between 1970 and 2009, and held numerous leadership positions. Octavo. Original silver card wrappers, front cover lettered in red and black with the Municipal Council's coat of arms and photograph of the central clock tower. Photographic half-tones and advertisements throughout. Wrappers bright with light soiling, creasing and rubbing, two holes where front cover sometime stapled, head of spine bumped, edges and title page foxed, else internally clean with peripheral light toning. A very good copy.