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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.

Regional and local borders are colour-coded, with mountains and rivers, settlements, paths/roads and names of local peoples marked. Notes such as ‘Gold dust found in these streams’ and ‘Rich in Tin’ add detail. Only two of four sheets are available.

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.