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The United States Treasury Department produced this map of trade routes crossing the Pacific Ocean between the United States and Asia. Each route is labelled with the names of its ports, and with the distance between them in miles.

Plan of the city of Manila, Philippines, showing the streets and buildings—categorised as military, civil or religious—around the Pasig River. Maritime routes are highlighted on inset maps of Manila Bay, the Philippines and the world.

Mountains and rivers are the main land features on this map of the Philippines. Steamship routes from Hong Kong, Singapore and New York arrive at Manila. An inset map of Manila Province shows locations of the Philippine–American War (1899–1902).

Two maritime routes—for use during the North-east and ‘fair’ monsoons—are shown on this late 19th century navigation map. The routes lead north through Southeast Asia, passing the Philippines, and ending in Hong Kong. Bathymetry (sea depth) is shown.

Designed to aid navigation around the western Java Sea, this map features bathymetry (sea depth), current and tide data, and is marked with shoals, reefs and other hazards. Written notes add details at specific locations (e.g. ‘heavy tide rips’).

This map of the Straits of Malacca features shoals and reefs, bathymetry (sea depth), drawings of side views of landmark mountains (elevations) and written observations, all designed to aid navigation. Pencil marks indicate the map was actually used.

This map of the Straits of Malacca features shoals and reefs, bathymetry (sea depth), drawings of side views of landmark mountains (elevations) and written observations, all designed to aid navigation.

A map to aid in the navigation of the rivers leading to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam). Details include bathymetry (water depth), currents, and a side view (or ‘elevation’) of hills to use as a landmark. Tides are described in written remarks.

Southeast Asia is on the last sheet of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is labelled ‘Malayan Sea’. Small islands, shoals and reefs are shown. A label in Cochin China (Vietnam) reads ‘mountains inhabited by the uncivilized people called Kemoys’.

A late 18th century maritime navigation map of the straits east of Java, with drawings of the elevations of the straits. The map is also marked with routes of explorers, including the return of Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour from Australia in 1770.

A late 18th century maritime map of Southeast Asia, marked with expedition routes including the return of Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour from Australia in 1770, and Captain Philip Carteret’s circumnavigation expedition in 1768.

These three maps are marked with shoals, rocks, water depth, safe entry points, and anchorage locations, to help ships safely anchor. The sites include the Joseph Freewill Islands (Mapia Atoll, Indonesia) and the coast of Mindanao in the Philippines.