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An early 19th century map of Singapore’s southern coast and islands, with bathymetry (sea depth), shoals and reefs, anchor points, and notes to aid navigation. The roads and main buildings of Singapore city are also shown.

The colonial possessions of Britain (in red, though faded on this map), the Netherlands (green, but discoloured to blue) and Spain (the Philippines, brown) are shown on this map, with independent areas such as Borneo and the Maluku Islands in yellow.

The shoals and reefs of maritime Southeast Asia are highlighted on this colourful mid-19th century map, with the treacherous waters around many islands and straits marked.

Brief notes printed on this 19th century map of Southeast Asia provide details about each region, including: numbers and ethnicity of the population, local or colonial rulers, crops and products, geography (corals, forests, volcanos, earthquakes).

The location, size, and population (by ethnicity) of Pinang, Malacca and Singapore—the Straits Settlements—are listed, along with how/when they were acquired by Britain. The distances from Canton (China) to those cities, and to India, are also noted.

A 19th century map of mainland Southeast Asia, showing the ancient kingdoms of the Birman Empire (roughly modern Myanmar), Malaya (Malaysia), Siam (Thailand), Cochin China and Tonquin (Vietnam), and the Anamese Empire (Cambodia and Laos).

The various regions of Southeast Asia are marked in different colours on this mid-19th century map. For example, on the mainland, the Birman Empire (Myanmar) is in yellow, with Siam (Thailand) in blue, and Anam (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) in green.

This late 19th century map of Southeast Asia shows the best maritime routes around the region, according to the time of year. There is also an inset map highlighting the rivers and southern islands of Singapore.

On this map of Sumatra, the west coast mountain ranges contrast with the rivers to the east. An inset map of Singapore focuses on jungles along the coasts, and features bathymetry (sea depth) around the south coast and along the Singapore Strait.

Known as the ‘Jackson Plan’, this is the earliest known plan of the city of Singapore, created by Lieutenant Philip Jackson in 1822. It was based on how Sir Stamford Raffles wanted Singapore to be developed, rather than the actual layout of the time.

The inset map on this map of India features part of mainland Southeast Asia: Pegu and the Tenasserim Provinces (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), and the Malay Peninsula (Malaysia), with the Straits Settlements—Singapore, Malacca, Penang—highlighted in red.

The inset map on this map of India features part of mainland Southeast Asia, with the British colonial territories—Straits Settlements, British Burma—highlighted in red, ‘protected states’ in yellow, and ‘independent states’ in green.