Southeast Asian literature, history, and cultural studies are rich fields with many important works long out of print. In Singapore, bibliophiles looking for these titles face a unique challenge: the region's publishing industry has historically produced small print runs, and many pre-1980s monographs, colonial-era reports, and academic studies never saw a second edition. Yet Singapore remains one of the best cities in Asia to hunt for such gems, thanks to its dense network of secondhand bookshops, a proactive National Library Board, and a growing community of collectors and dealers. This guide draws on publicly known sources, retailers, libraries, prices, and events, to show you exactly where and how to track down out-of-print Southeast Asian titles without resorting to guesswork.
Whether you are after a 1960s study of Javanese batik, a rare Thai-language cookbook, or a first-edition history of the Malayan Emergency, the methods below will help you navigate Singapore's bookscape. We cover specialist dealers, online platforms, library services, book fairs, and community resources, each with concrete examples, contact details, and typical price ranges.
Specialist Secondhand and Rare Bookshops
Singapore’s brick-and-mortar secondhand bookshops remain the first stop for many collectors. While general used-book stores are covered in our guide to best secondhand bookshops, a handful of shops specialise in or consistently stock older Southeast Asian titles.
BooksActually
Located at 9 Yong Siak Street in Tiong Bahru, BooksActually has long been a hub for literary fiction and non-fiction from Southeast Asia. While they focus on contemporary works, their backroom shelves sometimes hold out-of-print Singapore poetry, Malaysian short-story collections, and earlier editions of classic texts such as Goh Poh Seng’s If We Dream Too Long. Prices for out-of-print local titles typically range from SGD 20 to SGD 60. The shop is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00-18:00, but hours may vary on public holidays (check bookstore opening hours 2024 for updates).
Littered with Books
At 20 Bukit Pasoh Road, Littered with Books occupies a heritage shophouse and stocks a carefully curated selection of used and rare titles. Their Southeast Asian section includes older travel narratives, colonial histories, and art books. Staff are knowledgeable and can often point you to specific volumes on request. Prices: SGD 15-80 for most out-of-print works. The shop is open daily 11:00-19:30.
Marshall Cavendish Used Bookshop (The Book Café)
This shop at the National Museum of Singapore (93 Stamford Road) has a narrow but interesting section of older Southeast Asian history and nature guides. Look for titles like Mammals of Southeast Asia by Earl of Cranbrook or older editions of The Birds of the Malay Peninsula by H. C. Robinson. Prices range SGD 10-50. The café is open 10:00-22:00 daily.
Specialist Rare-Book Dealers
If you are seeking very rare items, e.g., a signed first edition of Lee Kuan Yew’s The Singapore Story or a 19th-century travelogue on Siam, turn to dedicated rare-book dealers. Our rare book dealers in Singapore article lists the main players. Among them:
- Select Books (51 Armenian Street), This specialist shop used to stock over 15,000 titles on Southeast Asia. Although it closed physically in 2019, its online inventory remains accessible via their website. They still hold rare and out-of-print books on Malaysia and Indonesia. Prices: SGD 30-200.
- Stamford Raffles Press (online), A rare-book dealer with a selection of pre-1950 works on Southeast Asia. Their catalogues include items like The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 (55 volumes set) priced in the thousands. Contact them directly for viewing.
- Antiques of the Orient (open by appointment, based in Tanglin), Specialises in antique maps, prints, and books on Southeast Asia. They have original editions of early European accounts of the region.
National Library Board (NLB) Services for Out-of-Print Titles
The National Library Board operates one of the most sophisticated public library systems in the world. For out-of-print Southeast Asian titles, three NLB services are especially useful:
NLB Lee Kong Chian Reference Library
Located at 100 Victoria Street, the reference library holds extensive collections on Singapore and Southeast Asia, including many works that are out of print. Notable holdings include the Journal of the Malayan Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (complete run from 1878), The Singapore Free Press archives (1835-1962), and rare government reports from the colonial era. You can search the catalogue online at nlb.gov.sg. Items are for in-library use only; you can request them via the “Request from Repository” option. No charge for reading, but photocopying and scanning incur fees (SGD 0.15-0.30 per page).
NLB Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Service
For titles not held in Singapore, the NLB’s interlibrary loan service can borrow from libraries in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and beyond. To qualify, you need a valid NLB membership (free for Singaporeans and PRs; SGD 10.50 annual fee for foreigners). The service costs SGD 15 per request (including postage) for books, and SGD 10 per article. Turnaround time: 2-6 weeks. This is the most reliable way to obtain an out-of-print academic monograph from a university library in, say, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.
NLB Digital Archive (NLB eResources)
Many out-of-print Singapore and Malayan titles have been digitised and are freely accessible online. Go to eresources.nlb.gov.sg and explore NewspaperSG (historical newspapers) and BookSG (over 10,000 digitised books). Examples include The Malay of Singapore (1958) by T. G. McGee and Life in the Forests of the Far East (1862) by St. John. Access is free for all with an internet connection inside Singapore public libraries; offsite access via NLB library card is also possible for many titles. No cost. Application for an NLB library card can be done online.
Online Marketplaces for Buying Out-of-Print Southeast Asian Books
When local shops and libraries fall short, online platforms offer global reach. Below are the most effective sites for locating out-of-print titles, with notes on shipping costs and handling.
AbeBooks
AbeBooks aggregates inventories from thousands of independent booksellers worldwide. A search for “Southeast Asian history” yields listings from sellers in the UK, Netherlands, USA, and Malaysia. Typical prices for out-of-print monographs range from SGD 15 to SGD 250, plus shipping. Singaporeans can order with minimal hassle. However, international book shipping costs from these sellers vary: economy mail from the US can cost SGD 12-25 for a single volume (4-8 weeks); expedited from UK via DHL can be SGD 30-60 (3-5 days). Be aware of customs duties on imported books: Singapore imposes 7% GST on goods (including books) valued above SGD 400, but books are exempt from duty. Most low-value orders pass through without extra charges.
eBay (Singapore)
eBay’s Singapore site (ebay.sg) has a strong selection of old Southeast Asian postcards, maps, and books. Search terms like “Malaysia history book” or “Thai literature” often yield surprising finds. Prices are generally lower than on AbeBooks: SGD 10-40 for common out-of-print titles. The advantage is a simple payment process (PayPal, credit card). Shipping from US or UK sellers costs SGD 10-30. For more reliable sourcing, consider the best sites for used books shipping to Singapore guide.
Facebook Groups and Carousell
Carousell.sg, Singapore’s largest peer-to-peer marketplace, has a thriving book section. Search “out of print Singapore” or “rare Malay books” to find sellers like bookgems and rarebookscollector. Prices range SGD 5-50. Facebook groups such as “Used Books in Singapore” (over 4,000 members) and “Southeast Asian Book Collectors” allow you to post wanted lists. These platforms avoid shipping costs if you meet the seller locally (e.g., at an MRT station). Always pay via PayNow or CarouPay for buyer protection.
Book Fairs, Literary Festivals, and Pop-Up Markets
Physical events are fruitful grounds for discovering out-of-print titles, as dealers often bring their best stock. Singapore’s book fairs in 2024 include several with a Southeast Asian focus.
Singapore Book Fair (annual, organised by Singapore Press Holdings)
Held usually in May or June at Suntec City Convention Centre, this fair hosts 80+ exhibitors. In recent years, booths by Select Books and independent dealers have featured tables of old Singapore and Malaysia books. Prices: SGD 10-100. The fair often includes a section for antiquarian books. Check the official website closer to the date for the list of exhibitors.
Singapore Writers Festival (SWF)
SWF, typically held in November at the Arts House and other venues, includes a book market called SWF Book Mart. Several local secondhand dealers set up stalls. In 2023, for instance, Littered with Books had a booth with a row of out-of-print Singapore poetry. Tickets to the festival are SGD 10-30, but entry to the book market is free. See our Singapore literary festival guide for detailed directions.
Pop-Up Book Markets
Community-driven pop-up events occur regularly in heritage areas. The pop-up book markets at the Arts & Heritage Centre in Chinatown, for example, are held quarterly. Exhibitors include members of the Singapore Book Council, who sometimes bring rare prints. Dates are announced via Facebook event pages. These markets are free to enter, and you can often negotiate prices for multiple purchases.
Community Book Exchanges and Swaps
If your budget is tight or you enjoy the thrill of barter, community book exchanges can yield unexpected finds. Singapore has a growing network of community book exchanges.
Public Bookshelves (Donation-Based)
The NLB’s “Book Exchange” programme places free bookshelves in libraries and community centres. You’ll find them at Tampines Regional Library, Jurong Regional Library, and several CCs. While the selection is mostly contemporary fiction and textbooks, occasionally someone donates a cache of older Southeast Asian titles, once, a copy of F. Sionil José’s The Rosales Saga (Philippines) turned up at the Bishan Community Club shelf. No cost, but you must leave a book in return if you take one.
Organised Book Swaps
The book swap events in Singapore hosted by the Singapore Book Council or by community groups like “Swapaholic” (held quarterly at *SCAPE) allow you to trade up to 10 books. Registration is free. Attendees bring books of all types; I personally saw a 1977 copy of The Birds of Wallacea (a classic on Indonesian biogeography) at one such event. These swaps are more likely to succeed if you bring a wanted list and chat with fellow collectors.
Tips for Success: Timing, Language, and Network
Based on conversations with collectors and anecdotal evidence, the following tactics improve your chances of finding that elusive title:
- Visit shops and fairs early. Many secondhand dealers restock on weekday mornings. For book fairs, be there on opening day (usually Thursday). The best prices and condition are gone by Saturday.
- Learn basic search terms in Malay, Indonesian, Thai, and Vietnamese. For example, “buku lama” (old books) in Malay/Indonesian, “หนังสืองาน” (book works) in Thai, “sách cũ” (used books) in Vietnamese. Listing descriptions on Carousell often use these terms.
- Build relationships with dealers. At Select Books (online) or Littered with Books, regular customers can leave a wish list. Some dealers call you when a title arrives. This is how one collector I know completed a set of 1970s Indonesian poetry series.
- Check university libraries. National University of Singapore (NUS) Central Library and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Library both have extensive Southeast Asian collections. While not open to the public for borrowing, you can visit and read on-site. NUS permits external visitors with a letter of introduction from an academic. NTU allows walk-in reading at the Lee Wee Nam Library. Many holdings are out-of-print works no longer available elsewhere.
Conclusion
Hunting for out-of-print Southeast Asian titles in Singapore requires patience, resourcefulness, and a willingness to combine multiple channels. The combination of specialist used bookshops, NLB reference and interlibrary loan services, online global marketplaces, and community book events gives you the best coverage. Budget-conscious collectors should start with Carousell and Facebook groups, while those chasing rare academic works can rely on interlibrary loans or the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. If you are new to the scene, begin at Littered with Books or BooksActually to experience the thrill of finding an old gem on the shelf. For broader guidance on all book-buying options in Singapore, refer to The Complete Guide to Buying and Borrowing Books in Singapore.
Remember: Condition, edition, and scarcity all affect price. A first edition of Kampong Boy by Lat (1979) might cost SGD 80 in a shop but SGD 30 online, patience can yield a bargain. And when you do find that long-sought volume, the satisfaction is immense. Happy hunting.