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Based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, this map has Latin inscriptions, including mentions of a mythical race of cannibals (‘Anthropophagi’) and hippopotamuses. The Malay Peninsula is labelled ‘Aurea Chersonesus [Golden Chersonese]’.

Based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, this colourful map has Latin inscriptions including ‘Aurea Regio [Kingdom of Gold]’ and ‘Regio Argenteo [Kingdom of Silver]’. The Malay Peninsula is labelled ‘Curra Cherlon [Golden Chersonese]’.

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]’.

Based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy, this map by Martin Waldseemüller has Latin inscriptions. The Malay Peninsula is labelled ‘Aurea Chersones [Golden Chersonese]’.

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.

This mid-16th century map of Southeast Asia shows some inaccuracies, especially in the shape of the Malay Peninsula and the islands meant to represent Sumatra (labelled ‘Camatra’), Java (‘Iava Mazor’) and Borneo (‘Iava Menor’). Latin text on reverse.

Mid-16th century map by Girolamo Ruscelli, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations, but the Malay Peninsula is recognisable. Italian text on the reverse describes the region.

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.

Mid-16th century map by Girolamo Ruscelli, based on the work of 2nd century geographer Ptolemy. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations, but the Malay Peninsula is recognisable. Italian text on the reverse describes the region.

A colourful 16th century map by André Thevet, with illustrations of ships and sea monsters around the seas of Southeast Asia. The map's scale is decorated with cartography tools such as rulers and a compass.

A banner at the right features text that notes that the ‘Insule Molucce’ (Maluku Islands) are famous for their abundance of spices, which are sold across the world. There are also Illustrations of mermaids and sea monsters wrecking a ship.