Prints From Long Ago

IN TODAY'S PAPER-LESS society, when just about all information is found online or stored on the cloud, physical records seem more like an antiquated process. But that's also what makes the exhibition On Paper: Singapore Before 1867, a refreshing take on Singapore's history.

Using books, illustrations, manuscripts and maps, it looks at how Singapore developed from the 17th century to 1867 - a significant year because that was when Singapore, as part of the Straits Settlement which also comprises Malacca and Penang, became a crown colony.

While there have been many similar exhibitions before, On Paper doesn't only rely on materials from the National Library and National Archives of Singapore. There are more than 50 items from overseas institutions, giving a more complex and holistic picture of Singapore in her early days. Many of these materials are on loan, and are on display for the first time.