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Navigation chart of the Sunda Strait, showing bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and reefs, landmarks, and a rhumbline network. Notes record good anchorages, sources of water and supplies etc. Inset map of the Zutphen Islands off the coast of Sumatra.

A map of the China Sea between Malaya, Sumatra and Borneo. The numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), and there are drawings of the side views of some of the islands (elevations), both used to aid navigation. Some maritime routes are also marked.

A late 18th century navigation map of the waters between the islands of Java, Madura and Bali. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), and there is an inset map of the Bay of Ballambouang, Java.

A late 18th century maritime map of Southeast Asia, marked with expedition routes including the return of Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour from Australia in 1770, and Captain Philip Carteret’s circumnavigation expedition in 1768.

Map of the Batavia (Jakarta) Bay roadstead, a body of water sheltered from tides/currents, for ships to anchor. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), and there are written notes, all to aid navigation.

Map of the Batavia (Jakarta) Bay roadstead, a body of water sheltered from tides/currents, for ships to anchor. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), and there are written notes, all to aid navigation.

This mid-18th century maritime map charts the seas between Peninsula Malaysia and Sumatra, including Singapore—named ‘Po. Panjang’—with the old and new Straits of Singapore marked. The numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry).

A map by the influential London cartographer, Herman Moll (1654?—1732), showing Southeast Asia in the context of the wider Asian region. Interestingly, the Strait of Malacca is labelled as the ‘Str. of Sincapora’ (Straits of Singapore).

An early 18th century navigation map, with a rhumbline network and a scale in English, French, Spanish and Dutch measurements. The cartouche includes a drawing of Asian people as primitive natives, as they were often seen in the West at the time.

This early 18th century maritime map charts the waters of the Straits of Sunda, between the islands of Java and Sumatra. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, while the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), both used to aid navigation.

This early 18th century maritime map charts the waters between the islands of Java, Madura and Bally (Bali). The web of lines is a rhumbline network, while the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), both used to aid navigation.

A map featuring drawings of plants used to make spices in the Moluccas or Spice Islands: Nux Myristica (nutmeg), Cariophilorum arbor (cloves), Santalum flavum (yellow sandalwood), Santalum rubrum (red sandalwood), Santalum album (Indian sandalwood).