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Colonial territory is labelled and colour-coded on this map of Southeast Asia. A list on the left edge gives the colonial status, size and population of Asian countries, and ranks the main cities by population. Gold and iron mines are marked.

The United States Treasury Department produced this map of trade routes crossing the Pacific Ocean between the United States and Asia. Each route is labelled with the names of its ports, and with the distance between them in miles.

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 1883 map shows European colonial territories in Southeast Asia. An inset map details the proposed French annexation of Tonquin, Annam and Cochin China (modern Vietnam). International telegraph lines are also marked.

On this hand-drawn and coloured map of Asia, the colours differentiate the colonial territories of the European powers: for example, New Guinea is divided into Dutch, British and German areas, and Borneo is split between the British and Dutch.

This mid-19th century map of Asia has colour-coded borders that show the beginnings of the emergence of the modern nation states of Southeast Asia, such as Laos, Burmah (Burma), Siam (Thailand) and Malaya (Malaysia).

On this mid-19th century map of Asia, national and regional borders are colour-coded, including colonial possessions such at the British Straits Settlements. Coastal cities, islands, shoals and reefs are marked in detail.

This early 19th century map depicts the regions of Asia by colour. The continental regions are green, while the archipelago regions are red, except for New Guinea which is yellow.

Southeast Asia is on the last sheet of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is labelled ‘Malayan Sea’. Small islands, shoals and reefs are shown. A label in Cochin China (Vietnam) reads ‘mountains inhabited by the uncivilized people called Kemoys’.

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.

A late 18th century map of Asia published in London by John Bowles, with regions indicated by colour. Central Borneo is labelled ‘Part inhabited by the Biayos’, which is seen on many contemporary maps, often with the comment ‘a savage people’.

A large and detailed late 18th century map of Asia, printed over four sheets. There are labels noting the inhabitants of some areas, such as 'BIAYOS or the inland People' in the centre of Borneo.