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This early map of Sumatra—referred to in the accompanying French text as ‘Isle de la Taprobane’—is covered with illustrations of people working on the land, and with elephants and camels. Villages, mountains, rivers and wild animals are also shown.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

Early navigation map of the South China Sea. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, while the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), both used to aid navigation. A route around the Gulf of Thailand is marked with text and the dates 1643 and 1644.

Hand-drawn map of islands in the Riau Archipelago, with bathymetry (sea depth) marked. It features side views of hills (‘elevations’) to use as landmarks, including ‘Jehore hill’, probably in Johor at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.

Map based on the expeditions of Jean-François de Surville, a merchant captain with the French East India Company. Some details are from the diary of the French Navy officer Théobald René, Comte de Kergariou-Locmaria, who explored the region in 1785.

Map based on the expeditions of Jean-François de Surville, a merchant captain with the French East India Company. Some details are from the diary of the French Navy officer Théobald René, Comte de Kergariou-Locmaria, who explored the region in 1785.

Map based on the expeditions of Jean-François de Surville, a merchant captain with the French East India Company. Some details are from the diary of the French Navy officer Théobald René, Comte de Kergariou-Locmaria, who explored the region in 1785.

This map of the Dutch East Indies is spread over eight sheets, with a hand-drawn cover sheet showing the whole area. There are numerous inset maps of islands, bays, cities etc. Two of the inset maps have a replacement map pasted over them.

This detailed map of the Dutch East Indies in the mid-19th century is spread over eight sheets, plus a cover sheet showing the whole area. There are numerous inset maps of islands, bays, cities etc.

The colonial possessions of Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Denmark are shown on this mid-19th century map of Southeast Asia. There are inset maps of Penang Island and Singapore, and text describing the region’s colonial history.

This mid-19th century map of Southeast Asia is illustrated with drawings of indigenous people from New Guinea, a ‘bee bear’ (probably a sun bear), a sailboat in front of Victoria Mount in New Guinea, and a village and palm trees in Sarawak, Borneo.