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The 20 colourful illustrations around the border of this 18th century map of Asia depict a variety of historical and biblical scenes, including the Crucifixion of Jesus and the sacking of Troy. Each scene has a description in French and Spanish.

A map to aid navigation around the Bay of Touranne (Bay of Turon, location of modern city of Da Nang, Vietnam). The web of lines is a rhumbline network, and bathymetry (sea depth), anchor points and two elevation views of the coasts are shown.

There is a port at the south of this map of the Côn Đảo archipelago (Vietnam), and notes giving details such as a suitable location to careen ships (turning a ship on its side for cleaning or repair). A ruined English fort is also marked.

This map of Asia is taken from Noël Antonine Pluche's ‘Concorde de la géographie des différens âges’ published in 1772.

The arrows on this map show the direction of the seasonal monsoons of Southeast Asia during the late 18th century. Each arrow has a label in French, indicating the month. The hatched sea areas are where the winds always blow in the same direction.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Asia. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner) standing on a plinth, surrounded by patterned curtains and carpet. Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines is noted on the map.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Asia. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner) standing on a plinth, surrounded by patterned curtains and carpet. Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines is noted on the map.

This map shows the islands of Java, Sumatra and Borneo, the straits of Sunda, Malacca and Bangka, and the Gulf of Siam. The points of the compass can be seen radiating out from a central compass rose.

Map of the regions, empires and states of Asia. Extensive notes cover religion (people of mainland Southeast Asia are idolaters), colonialism (Dutch and Portuguese rule in Malacca and the Sunda Islands) and the spice trade of the Maluku Islands.

Map of the regions, empires and states of Asia. Extensive notes cover religion (people of mainland Southeast Asia are idolaters), colonialism (Dutch and Portuguese rule in Malacca and the Sunda Islands) and the spice trade of the Maluku Islands.

The kingdoms of mid-18th century mainland Southeast Asia are shown on this map: Ava and Pegu (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Tonquin and Cochinchine (Vietnam), Camboie (Cambodia) and Laos. Rivers are also prominent, and mountains are shown pictorially.

Labels on this mid-18th century map of Southeast Asia describe various local peoples as ‘sauvage [savage]’, including the ‘Ke-Moy’ of the mountains along the border of Cochinchine (Vietnam) and Camboja (Cambodia), and the ‘Biayos’ of central Borneo.