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Map of Asia featuring mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China—including ‘Caÿamaÿ Lacus’—and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia. Carvings of people and animals decorate the cartouche.

Map of Asia featuring mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China—including ‘Caÿamaÿ Lacus’—and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia. Carvings of people and animals decorate the cartouche.

South is orientated towards the top of this map, with maritime Southeast Asia in the upper half and the mainland below. Top right is Java (‘Iava Magiore [Java Major]’); Borneo is labelled ‘Iava Menore [Java Minor]’. Ships and sea monsters are at sea.

This 1550 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. There are many inaccuracies, especially in scale and the locations of mountain ranges, but the region is recognisable.

This 1550 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. There are many inaccuracies, especially in scale and the locations of mountain ranges, but the region is recognisable.

This 1550 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. There are many inaccuracies, especially in scale and the locations of mountain ranges, but the region is recognisable.

This 1550 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. There are many inaccuracies, especially in scale and the locations of mountain ranges, but the region is recognisable.

This 1540 map by the German cartographer Sebastian Münster (1488–1552) was based on the work of the 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. On the reverse, there is Latin text giving details of the area, including crops grown.

Early map by Lorenz Fries, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. The Malay Peninsula—labelled ‘Aurea Chersone [Golden Chersonese]’—is recognisable. A drawing on the reverse features cannibals with dog’s heads chopping up human bodies.

Based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, Bernardo Silvani’s woodcut map is innovative in its use of two colours: a black background with important text added in red. The Malay Peninsula is labelled ‘Aurea Chersonesus [Golden Chersonese]’.