A bilingual pictorial book that chronicles the life of Mr Lee Kuan Yew was launched on Friday, to commemorate his 90th birthday on Sept 16.

Titled Lee Kuan Yew: A Life in Pictures, the 268-page book contains a curated collection of about 480 photographs.

It includes more than 100 never-before-published pictures, some from Mr Lee's personal and family albums that capture private moments between Singapore's first prime minister and his late wife Kwa Geok Choo, as well as their three children.

The book is published by Straits Times Press, the book publishing subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings. A copy was presented to Mr Lee at his Istana office on Friday by SPH CEO Alan Chan.

Work on the book started in January, and the team involved included The Straits Times' Picture Editor Stephanie Yeow, correspondent Cassandra Chew, and senior writer Leong Weng Kam; and Lianhe Zaobao news editor Han Yong May and executive photographer Spencer Chung.

The team sourced for images from Mr Lee's family, old friends, colleagues, grassroots leaders, government agencies and even collectors of Lee Kuan Yew paraphernalia. The result is a pictorial spread that not only covers the breadth of his achievements, but also reveals his more intimate side.

The book will be available at leading bookstores for $70 (inclusive of GST) from Saturday. It can also be ordered online at http://www.stpressbooks.com.sg.