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Early 17th century map of Asia, with annotations in Latin naming the major countries, islands and cities. Maritime Southeast Asia is shown as an archipelago of many small islands.

This early 17th century map features a number of mythical lakes that were once thought to exist in southern China—including ‘Cayamay Lacus’—and which feed several rivers that flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

Map of Asia from the second volume of ‘Navigantium atque itinerantium bibliotheca: or, A compleat collection of voyages and travels: consisting of above four hundred of the most authentick writers’ published by John Harris in 1705.

An early 18th century map of Asia by the English cartographer John Senex, featuring labels noting details of the inhabitants of some areas e.g. on Borneo: ‘The Middle of this Isle is Inhabited by a People call’d Beaujous Idolaters’.

A map of Southeast Asia by the London-based cartographer Herman Moll (1654?–1732) with hand-coloured regional borders. The north coast of Borneo is labelled ‘A Desart [desert] Coast’, while the south is labelled ‘Pepper Country’.

This 18th century map of Southeast Asia by the French cartographer Gilles Robert de Vaugondy features the national borders of the Philippines in green, and of modern Indonesia in yellow. The Malay Peninsula and modern Cambodia and Vietnam are in red.

This 18th century map of Southeast Asia by the French cartographer Gilles Robert de Vaugondy features the national borders of the Philippines in green, and of modern Indonesia in yellow. The Malay Peninsula and modern Cambodia and Vietnam are in red.

This late 18th century map of Asia by the British mathematician and cartographer Samuel Dunn uses an azimuthal projection to aid navigation.

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.

A late 18th century map of Asia, with notes on the principal states, empires and kingdoms of Asia written in French on the right-hand side.

A late 18th century map of Asia with regions divided by colour-coded borders, and detailing rivers, mountains, reefs and shoals.

The cartouche on this early 19th century map of Asia features a drawing of an Asian merchant smoking a long pipe while standing with his goods. Behind are a camel and an elephant surrounded by greenery and palm trees.