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The shoals and reefs of maritime Southeast Asia are highlighted on this colourful mid-19th century map, with the treacherous waters around many islands and straits marked.

Longitude is indicated in two different ways on this mid-18th century map: along the top border, it is shown in degrees (number of degrees east of London); more unusually, along the bottom border, it is shown in time (number of hours east of London).

A late 18th century map of Asia with regions divided by colour-coded borders, and detailing rivers, mountains, reefs and shoals.

From the first volume of John Seally’s ‘A Complete Geographical Dictionary’, this map of Asia includes the ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia, and the Sunda and Molucca islands (‘Molucca or Spice Islands’) of maritime Southeast Asia.

Coloured borders divide this late 18th century map of Asia into empires, kingdoms and regions. Five major rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia are named: Aua, Pegu, Tenasserim, Menan and Camboya.

Created for Middleton’s ‘Complete System of Geography’, this map of Asia includes the ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia, the Sunda Islands and Moluccas of maritime Southeast Asia, as well as the Philippines and New Guinea.

Longitude is indicated in two different ways on this mid-18th century map: along the top border, it is shown in degrees (number of degrees east of London); more unusually, along the bottom border, it is shown in time (number of hours east of London).

This mid-18th century map of Southeast Asia includes written notes on goods produced and traded, geographical features, and wild animals found in each part of the region. The cartouche features a drawing of Asia with people, fields and palm trees.

This mid-18th century map of Southeast Asia includes written notes on goods produced and traded, geographical features, and wild animals found in each part of the region.

Map dedicated to William Cowper, whose coat of arms sits atop the cartouche. It features two horses holding a crest with three martlets (mythical birds used in heraldry). The cartouche also features Asian traders. Monsoons are marked on the map.

A map by the influential London cartographer, Herman Moll (1654?—1732), showing Southeast Asia in the context of the wider Asian region. Interestingly, the Strait of Malacca is labelled as the ‘Str. of Sincapora’ (Straits of Singapore).

The arrows on this map show the direction of the seasonal monsoons: each arrow has a label, indicating the month. The northeast coast of Borneo is labelled ‘A Desart [desert/deserted?] Coast’, while the south is labelled ‘Pepper Country’.