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Simple mid-18th century French-language map of Asia, with Southeast Asia divided into four regions: the mainland in yellow, the Philippines in green, the Sunda Islands in red, and the Maluku Islands in yellow.

Simple mid-18th century French-language map of Asia, with Southeast Asia divided into four regions: the mainland in yellow, the Philippines in green, the Sunda Islands in red, and the Maluku Islands in yellow.

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).

The coast of New Guinea (‘Nova Guinéa’) is represented in part by a dotted line on this mid-18th century map, indicating that the exact coastlines were unknown at this time. Originally in French, the map has been modified to add Dutch text as well.

The coast of New Guinea (‘Nova Guinéa’) is represented in part by a dotted line on this mid-18th century map, indicating that the exact coastlines were unknown at this time. Originally in French, the map has been modified to add Dutch text as well.

The coast of New Guinea (‘Nova Guinéa’) is represented in part by a dotted line on this mid-18th century map, indicating that the exact coastlines were unknown at this time. Originally in French, the map has been modified to add Dutch text as well.

On this mid-18th century map of the Sunda Islands, a label on the island of Borneo states ‘Beajous Afgoden dienars bewonende het middelste gedeelte vant Eilland [Beajous idolaters inhabit the middle part of the Island]’.

On this mid-18th century map of the Sunda Islands, a label on the island of Borneo states ‘Beajous Afgoden dienars bewonende het middelste gedeelte vant Eilland [Beajous idolaters inhabit the middle part of the Island]’.

On this mid-18th century map of the Sunda Islands, a label on the island of Borneo states ‘Beajous Afgoden dienars bewonende het middelste gedeelte vant Eilland [Beajous idolaters inhabit the middle part of the Island]’.

On this mid-18th century map of the Sunda Islands, a label on the island of Borneo states ‘Beajous Afgoden dienars bewonende het middelste gedeelte vant Eilland [Beajous idolaters inhabit the middle part of the Island]’.

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.