SEMARANG - The Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia Fadli Zon launched the book Samarangh Illustrated Postcard at the Oudetrap Building, Old City Area, Semarang, Friday, December 19, 2025. This book presents a visual trace of Semarang's history through old postcards that record the face of the city, public spaces, and social life across time.
The book launch was accompanied by a temporary exhibition of Semarang Portraits in a Postcard Frame which was held for seven days, 19-26 December 2025. This activity is a collaboration between the Ministry of Culture and the Semarang City Government.
Fadli Zon emphasized that the Old City of Semarang is an important marker in the city's historical journey. From the port and trading center, to the spice trade hub and the birth of the first national industry, including the first railway in Indonesia.
"The Old City is Semarang's collective memory. Many phases of the nation's history meet in this city, including national movements such as Sarekat Islam," said Fadli.
He emphasized that postcards are not just a collection. The medium records the face of the city, photography techniques, to social dynamics at the time. "Postcards, stamps, and post stamps always tell stories. From there, the history of the city can be read," he said.
The Mayor of Semarang, Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti, assessed that this book was able to evoke the emotional closeness of residents with the history of the city. The visuals displayed invite readers to see the changes in the city space from time to time.
As a philatelist, Fadli revealed that he had collected around 7,000-8,000 postcards from various cities in Indonesia. Semarang is one of the cities with the largest collection, along with Batavia, Surabaya, Yogyakarta, and Fort de Kock.
Samarangh's book is the third book after the Buitenzorg and Fort de Kock series. The old spelling of "Samarangh" was chosen to present historical memories, not to change the name of the city. Fadli said the next series will feature Yogyakarta, Bandung, Batavia, and other cities.
"Behind every picture, there is a story of lost buildings, figures, and changes in time," he said.
The book launch was attended by members of the Forkopimda, philatelic community, academics, cultural figures, and the history community. Fadli hopes that this book will enrich the treasure of Semarang knowledge and become a visual bridge between the past, present, and future.
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