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A page from Abbé Prévost’s ‘Histoire Générale des Voyages’. The top map shows the Bay of Laphao on Timor, while the other drawings are side views (or ‘elevations’) of mountains on the region’s islands to use as landmarks when navigating.

The coast of New Guinea (‘Nouvelle Guinée’) is represented in part by a dotted line on this mid-18th century map, indicating that the exact coastlines were unknown at this time. The western tip is labelled ‘C. de Bonne Esperance [Cape of Good Hope]’.

A mid-18th century map of the island of Amboine (Ambon Island in the Maluku Islands of modern Indonesia), featuring mountains, rivers and paths. Other notable highlights include a ruined castle, a guardroom, and houses.

This colourful mid-18th century plan of the city of Amboine (Ambon, capital of Ambon Island, in the Maluku Islands, Indonesia) has a detailed legend identifying locations within the city and the surrounding mountains. The text is in French and Dutch.

The note in French at the top left of this map states that although the map is accurate, the names of many small islands have been omitted to avoid confusion, and that more details will come later.