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Map of Southeast Asia highlighting European colonial possessions. Unusually, the south coast of the Philippine island of Mindanao is shown twice, reflecting uncertainty about its true location. Names of indigenous peoples are listed on Borneo.

This map of Asia is from the earliest version of ‘Stielers Handatlas’ by the German cartographers Adolf Stieler and Christian Gottlieb Reichard. The maps were initially published separately; later editions compiled them into book form.

This map of Asia is from the earliest version of ‘Stielers Handatlas’ by the German cartographers Adolf Stieler and Christian Gottlieb Reichard. The maps were initially published separately; later editions compiled them into book form.

This map of Asia, from an atlas by the German cartographer Karl von Spruner, is colour-coded to show the colonial possessions of the European powers—Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Britain and Denmark—at the end of the 17th century.

Map of Asia, with mainland Southeast Asia in red and divided into ancient kingdoms, Sunda Islands in yellow, and the Philippines in grey. Twelve different scales are shown, as different countries used different measurement systems.

Map of Asia, with mainland Southeast Asia in red and divided into ancient kingdoms, Sunda Islands in yellow, and the Philippines in grey. Twelve different scales are shown, as different countries used different measurement systems.

Three sheets of a late 17th century map of Asia, with Southeast Asia on the third sheet. The oceans are decorated with drawings of sailing ships, and there is a detailed scene of Asian merchants, including a chained and kneeling slave and a camel.

Early map of Asia featuring a number of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China, and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia. Text describes the world divided into four or five regions.

Early map of Asia featuring a number of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China, and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia. Text describes the world divided into four or five regions.

This early German map of Asia is colour-coded by region, and features a brief description of Asia in blackletter German text. Interestingly, the Southeast Asian island of Sumatra is labelled 'Taprobana' which is the name the Greeks called Sri Lanka.