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This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Asia. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner) standing on a plinth, surrounded by patterned curtains and carpet. Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines is noted on the map.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Asia. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner) standing on a plinth, surrounded by patterned curtains and carpet. Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines is noted on the map.

A hand-written note on the bottom margin of this map reads ‘Dressé par Rizzi Zannoni, gravé par Lattré, 1762’, indicating that it was drawn by the Italian cartographer Giovanni Antonio Rizzi Zannoni, and engraved by the French engraver Jean Lattré.

A hand-written note on the bottom margin of this map reads ‘Dressé par Rizzi Zannoni, gravé par Lattré, 1762’, indicating that it was drawn by the Italian cartographer Giovanni Antonio Rizzi Zannoni, and engraved by the French engraver Jean Lattré.

Map of Asia based on observations of members of the French Academy of Sciences. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner).

Map of Asia based on observations of members of the French Academy of Sciences. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner).

Map marking the routes through maritime Southeast Asia of two delegations: a French delegation from Brest, France to Siam in 1685; and a Siamese delegation from Siam to Brest in 1686. A note next to Aceh records a sea battle against Portugal in 1616.

Map of the Indian Ocean dominated by a rhumbline network—a web of interconnected lines used to help plot routes—with a compass rose at the centre. At the top there are (incomplete) drawings of people with text in Dutch, French, English and Spanish.

This map of the Eastern Hemisphere (Asia, Europe, Africa) shows New Guinea (‘Nouvelle Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nouvelle Hollande’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century.

Produced by the French cartographer Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667) in the mid-17th century, this map of Asia features hand-coloured regional borders. Its cartouche features cherubim and decorative scrollwork.

Produced by the French cartographer Nicolas Sanson (1600–1667) in the mid-17th century, this map of Asia features hand-coloured regional borders. Its cartouche features decorative scrollwork, fabric and tassels.

A mid-17th century map of Asia, showing mainland Southeast Asia divided into regions such as Cochinchine, Chiampa and Tunquin (Vietnam), Sian (Thailand), Pegu, Martaban and Arracan (Myanmar), and Camboge (Cambodia).