BIANG LALA, Batavia, Netherlands East Indies, Jan. 8, 1868  

* From the indigenous press

This is a very obscure Javanese language, Christian missionary newspaper, with the Dutch royal arms in the masthead. This is issue number 9.
Four pages, 7 1/2 by 10 3/4 inches, very nice condition.

Background: The publication of the January 8, 1868, issue of Biang Lala (Javanese for "The Rainbow") represents a pivotal moment in the development of the indigenous press in the Netherlands East Indies, marking the early efforts of Christian missionaries to engage the Javanese population through their own vernacular. Printed in Batavia (modern-day Jakarta) just a decade after the first Javanese-language weekly appeared, this periodical was part of a strategic shift toward "heart language" evangelism led by figures like F.W.L. Anthing, who sought to cultivate a native Christian identity that bypassed traditional Dutch linguistic barriers. The presence of the Dutch Royal Arms in the masthead underscored the complex intersection of colonial authority and religious outreach, where the state sanctioned such publications to provide "moral instruction" and world news while maintaining ideological control. As one of the few surviving early Javanese imprints, this ninth issue serves as a rare cultural artifact from a period of profound social transition, illustrating how the printing press was utilized to navigate the emerging distinctions between Javanese Islamic traditions and the growing influence of Western-backed missionary institutions.