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From Sebastian Münster's ‘Cosmographia’, this map of Java features illustrations of the ‘Anthropophagi’, a mythical race of cannibals. The book also notes the religion, language, and trade (pepper, nuts, nutmeg, saffron, ginger) of the local people.

A colourful early 17th century map of Sumatra, Java and the Malay Peninsula, with North located to the left, and major settlements marked. Latin text on the reverse describes the peoples, religions, languages, agriculture, mining etc. of the region.

Unusually, north is located to the right of this early 17th century map of the Maluku Islands, rather than the top. The scale is shown on a stone monument. French text on the reverse describes Java.

French text on the reverse of this map describes the religion, languages, crops, trade etc. of Aracam and Pegu (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Cambaja (Cambodia). The map is dedicated to the Dutch merchant Christophoro Thisio.

The title of this mid-18th century map translates as ‘Asia following the latest observations of the Muscovites/Russians’. Written notes in French list the regions, islands, empires, kingdoms, colonial possessions, religions and languages of Asia.

A map of Southeast Asia coloured to indicate the five different language families spoken in the region in the late 19th century. Names of indigenous tribes/languages are marked in red text, with European colonial possessions in grey.

A map of Southeast Asia coloured to indicate the five different language families spoken in the region in the late 19th century. Names of indigenous tribes/languages are marked in red text, with European colonial possessions in grey.

This map of Java and Madura is colour-coded with the languages spoken in each area. Schools for local children are also marked, with symbols for each type of school, such as government, private, missionary, nursery, agricultural and seminary.

A late 19th century map showing the languages and dialects spoken in and around India, including regions of Siam, Burma and Malaya. The regions are colour-coded by language and bordered by red lines to indicate different dialects.

This map is colour-coded to show the different languages and dialects spoken in Sumatra in the late 19th century.

Two separate maps showing the languages and dialects spoken on the islands of Bangka, and the Riouw (Riau) and Lingga archipelagos, in the late 19th century. On Bangka alone, there are 12 languages or dialects listed.

This map is colour-coded to show the different languages and dialects spoken in the Lesser Sunda Islands in the late 19th century.