This item is a family heirloom, most likely from Java/Sumatra.  Can you tell me:

a. approximately how old is it?
b. what kind of book is it?
c. what language are the characters in?
d. where is it from?

http://www.dizos.com/sumatra_book/

Above is a link to pictures of the book.

Hi there,

I believe that your wooden book is a "pustaha", created by the Batak
people of Sumatra, and containing information about magical practices.
The language is a local dialect, and may require quite a bit of
detective work to work out which one - see the forum message link
below. Two examples I found are dated to the 19th century.

"This concertina-form manuscript made from the folded bark of what is
believed to be the alim tree is a type of book from the Batak peoples
of Sumatra. Such books, known in Sumatra as "pustaka" were often
written in an archaic Southern Batak dialect mixed with local dialect.
These books are often used in matters of magic, divination and
medicine as practiced by the Batak datu who functions as magician,
soothsayer, and doctor."
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/AsiaExhibit/seac.html

A photo of inside the book is here:
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/SSEAL/AsiaExhibit/bark.gif

"The pustaha, the treebark books of the Batak, are most probably the
most intriguing writings of Sumatera. These harmonica-shaped books are
about magics, medicine and fortune tellings and were used by
student-medicine men during their study at a Batak priest or dato. It
contains important information for preparing a chickens entrails or to
predict signs about a child's birth-date, and also receipts for
love-drinks and poisons."
http://indahnesia.com/frame.php?link=/Indonesia/Sumatera/Sumatera.php&lang=&code=SUMLAN

A similar book in the Schoyen collection is given a date of 19th
century.
http://www.nb.no/baser/schoyen/5/5.12/#2480

Anther pustaha is also dated to the same century (about a 1/4 of the
way down the page):
http://homepage1.nifty.com/sojusha/newpage6.htm

The beetle icon amongst your photos is quite similar to a Bindu
Matoga, featuring two intertwined snakes.
http://www.ets.uidaho.edu/arch499/nonwest/indonesia/TBDec&Sym.htm

Here is a forum message from a gentleman on a similar mission to yours
- you might find the books he mentions interesting:
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/exlibris/2000/09/msg00192.html


Search Strategy
---------------

Google Image search:

sumatra book 
http://images.google.com/images?q=sumatra+book+

Google Search:

Pustaha book
://www.google.com/search?q=pustaha+book


I am sure there are many esoteric scholars who would love to take a
look at your special book - including me. Thanks for the question!

Best wishes,
robertskelton-ga

This answer placed me firmly on the path of discovering the origin of
the item of my question.  It was far more helpful than I expected.