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A late 19th century map of the town of Malacca and its surrounding area, including jungles, forests, mountains, rivers, roads, villages, tapioca estates and factories, and police stations. There is even a leper hospital on an island off the coast.

Map of the Banda Islands—which was at this time the only source of nutmeg in the world—featuring mountains, plantations, settlements and a military fort. On the island of Gunnanapi (Banda Api) a volcano erupts (‘api’ means ‘fire’ in Indonesian).

This unusual map of Batavia in the late 18th century shows the port city as seen when approaching from the sea. The castle is depicted prominently as a three-dimensional drawing, with the rest of the city behind more flat like a plan.

Map of the Banda Islands—which was at this time the only source of nutmeg in the world—featuring mountains, plantations, settlements and a military fort. On the island of Goenong Api (Banda Api) a volcano erupts (‘api’ means ‘fire’ in Indonesian).

Map of the Banda Islands—which was at this time the only source of nutmeg in the world—featuring mountains, plantations, settlements and a military fort. On the island of Gunnanapi (Banda Api) a volcano erupts (‘api’ means ‘fire’ in Indonesian).

On this beautifully illustrated and coloured map of Java, mountains, trees, fields of crops and settlements are shown pictorially. The coasts are marked with shoals, reefs, bathymetry (sea depth, in figures) and anchor points.

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.

Although mainly a navigation map—with a rhumbline network and elevations of mountains—there are also many terrestrial details shown, such as settlements and mountains. The inset map of Hoeamohel details plantations and the cultivation of nut crops.

On this map of Bali (and parts of Java and Lombok), mountains, trees, fields and settlements are shown pictorially. The coasts are marked with shoals (dots), reefs (crosses), bathymetry (sea depth, in figures) and anchor points (anchor symbols).

The mountains and forests of early 18th century Java are beautifully illustrated here by the Dutch cartographer Henry Abraham Chatelain (1648-1743). Details include cities, fields of crops, animals and people. An inset map shows the port of Batavia.

The mountains and forests of early 18th century Java are beautifully illustrated here by the Dutch cartographer Henry Abraham Chatelain (1648-1743). Details include cities, fields of crops, animals and people. An inset map shows the port of Batavia.

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.