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A six-sheet map of Groot-Atjèh (Aceh, northern Sumatra) focusing on areas occupied during the Aceh War (1873–1904) between the Sultanate of Aceh and Dutch colonists. It shows military positions and fortifications, buildings, routes and crops.

From Joseph Kürschner’s ‘Universal-Konversations-Lexikon’, this map of German colonies includes the island of New Guinea. Divided between Dutch, British and German colonies, the German territory is Kaiser-Wilhelmsland and the Bismarck Archipelago.

This map of the island of Billiton (Belitung, Indonesia) features mountains, rivers, railways, roads, settlements, coconut plantations and administrative borders. An inset map shows the island’s port and capital city Tanjung Pandan.

Maritime map of the Philippines, with inset maps of bays showing bathymetry (sea depth), shoals, reefs and anchor points. There is also an inset map of Taal Volcano, and elevations (side views of terrestrial landmarks like mountains and islands).

This geological map of the district of Toboali (Bangka Island, east of Sumatra) uses colours to depict types of rocks, soils and minerals. Tin mining areas are also highlighted.

Map of Borneo—with insets of Southeast Asia, Sarawak and Labuan—featuring temperature data, volcanoes, English colonial territory, products of Borneo, geology (rock types), bathymetry (sea depth) and elevations (side views of mountains with heights).

A mid-19th century German map of mainland Southeast Asia showing a mixture of ancient kingdoms (e.g. Cochin-China), administrative districts (Malay States) and colonial possessions (Straits Settlements). Extensive mountainous areas are also featured.

A navigation map of the Java Sea and Sunda Islands, with bathymetry (sea depth), maritime routes, shoals and reefs, and elevations (side views of terrestrial landmarks). Inset maps feature the bay at Batavia and the straits between the Sunda Islands.

A mid-19th century German map of mainland Southeast Asia showing a mixture of ancient kingdoms (e.g. Birma, Siam, Anam) and the colonial possessions of Britain (Malaya, Straits Settlements) and Denmark (Nicobar Islands).

Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula feature on this map of the Indian Ocean. Enganno Island, west of southern Sumatra, has a label that translates as ‘inhabited by very pernicious savages’. An inset map depicts the Madura Strait between Java and Madura.

On this map, ‘Lago di Chiamay’, one of number of mythical lakes once thought to exist in southern China, feeds five rivers—labelled ‘Menam’, ‘Pegu’ ‘Maraban’, ‘Cosmin’ and ‘Caor’—which flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

This 17th century map by the French cartographer Nicolas Sanson shows Southeast Asia in the context of the rest of the Asian continent, and even includes parts of Africa and Europe. The decorative cartouche features winged cherubim.