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This colourful map of Asia has an elaborate cartouche featuring two Asian men talking—one carries a bow, the other smokes a long pipe—while a lion sits nearby. The scale is also illustrated, with drawings of Asian birds.

This colourful map of Asia has an elaborate cartouche featuring two Asian men talking—one carries a bow, the other smokes a long pipe—while a lion sits nearby. The scale is also illustrated, with drawings of Asian birds.

This mid-18th century map features labels noting the local populations, including the Kemois of the mountains and deserts of Cochinchinae (Vietnam) and the Byayos of Borneo. The map’s cartouche is embellished with maritime and military paraphernalia.

Map featuring the ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia. The cartouche is embellished with maritime and military paraphernalia. The map is dedicated to William IV, Prince of Orange (Guillaume Charles Henry Friso). Sheet one of two.

Map featuring the ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia. The cartouche is embellished with maritime and military paraphernalia. The map is dedicated to William IV, Prince of Orange (Guillaume Charles Henry Friso). Sheet one of two.

This mid-18th century map features a label noting that the Byayos people inhabited the mountains of central Borneo. Another note at the northeast tip of Borneo states that the location and number of islands in the area is uncertain.

This mid-18th century map of Asia features a drawing of religious imagery: Asian people are seen making offerings to two figures, including the Greek god Poseidon (or the Roman god Neptune), and kneeling as cherubs descend from the sky.

This elaborately illustrated map of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans includes the eastern islands of Southeast Asia. The routes of five expeditions west across the Pacific are marked, including that of Ferdinand Magellan to the Philippines in 1520.

A map of a small island chain off the west coast of the island of Gilolo (modern Halmahera in the Maluku Islands of Indonesia). The military forts and ships were used by the European colonial powers during conflicts over the area’s spice trade.

A map of Java with mountains, jungles, animals and crops. Bathymetry (sea depth) is marked, including on an inset map of Batavia harbour. Illustrations include Batavia Castle, and a lion—representing Belgium—receiving tribute and enslaving locals.

Colourful map of the East Indies focusing on maritime navigation: there is a compass rose at the centre of a rhumbline network (a web of lines to help plot routes). Shoals, reefs and islands are also marked.

Colourful map of the East Indies focusing on maritime navigation: there is a compass rose at the centre of a rhumbline network (a web of lines to help plot routes). Shoals, reefs and islands are also marked.