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Map of the island of Seram in the Maluku Islands, originally produced as two separate maps. Red lines show lines of communication of local people (referred to as ‘Alfoer’), with their tribe’s name. Muslim, Christian and Alfoer settlements are marked.

Map of the Kai Islands, in the Banda Sea, designed for navigation: it features bathymetry (sea depth), reefs and shoals. Obstructions in the water are marked ‘kr’ (coral), ‘m’ (mud), ‘s’ (shells), ‘st’ (stones), and ‘z’ (sand).

From a Dutch geographical society journal, this map of the west coast of Atjeh (Aceh), Sumatra, shows shoals, reefs, bathymetry (sea depth) and anchor points. On land, there are mountains (with heights), rivers, pepper plantations and rice fields.

This map of the lower basin of the Ketaun River features a number of rivers flowing to the sea at the southwest coast of Sumatra. Between the rivers are large areas of forest (‘Zwaar woud’), mountains, villages, roads, hot springs and fields.

An Atlas produced by an expedition in central Sumatra, including: maps of topography, geology, a number of rivers in the region; drawings of mountains, graphs of lengths of roads; family trees of the royal families of Djambi (Jambi) and Palembang.

Two maps of the Dutch East Indies: one of the whole region, and one of Java alone. Both are divided into administrative regions—e.g. Java is divided into regencies—with coloured borders.

Two maps of the Dutch East Indies: one of the whole region, and one of Java alone. Both are divided into administrative regions—e.g. Java is divided into regencies—with coloured borders.

Map of Java divided into administrative areas. Mountains are shown pictorially, major rivers are named, and the coasts have shoals. The map is orientated with south at the top, so the island looks ‘upside down’ compared to how it is usually shown.

Map of Java divided into administrative areas. Mountains are shown pictorially, major rivers are named, and the coasts have shoals. The map is orientated with south at the top, so the island looks ‘upside down’ compared to how it is usually shown.

Published in the early 18th century by the Dutch publisher Pieter van der Aa (1659–1733), this map of Java and the Java Sea is decorated with a colourful painted scene of merchants and boats at a trading port.

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

Map of the ‘Spice Islands’ of maritime Southeast Asia, including the Maluku Islands. It is decorated with a drawing of an Asian man holding a large bird and a spear, and surrounded by baskets and boxes of goods of the spice trade.