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From Sebastian Münster's ‘Cosmographia’, this map of Java features illustrations of the ‘Anthropophagi’, a mythical race of cannibals. The book also notes the religion, language, and trade (pepper, nuts, nutmeg, saffron, ginger) of the local people.

Taken from Benedetto Bordone's ‘Isolario [The Book of Islands]’, these pages contain two maps: one of Sumatra (‘Iaua Minore’), and one of a group of five unknown islands (Locaz is thought to possibly be Thailand).

This early map of Sumatra (labelled ‘Taprobana’) features many illustrations. In the sea, there are ships, fish and sea monsters, while on land, plantations, agricultural workers, a shepherd and wooden buildings highlight the economy of the island.

This early map of Sumatra—referred to in the accompanying French text as ‘Isle de la Taprobane’—is covered with illustrations of people working on the land, and with elephants and camels. Villages, mountains, rivers and wild animals are also shown.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

A map of Sumatra featuring villages, mountains and rivers; text describing the island; and a drawing of a man riding an elephant. The title uses the name ‘Taprobana’ for Sumatra, stating it was a name used by ‘ancient geographers [alten geographen]’.

An early map of the island of Borneo, depicting the natural landscape of mountains, forests, rivers and shoals, and also evidence of human habitation with houses representing settlements, and a port and shipping route along the northern coast.

The Latin title of this map refers to an Admiral Wibrand of Warwick, who visited the island of Amboina (Ambon Island in the Maluku Islands) in March 1599.

Two drawings and text from ‘Rerum et urbis Amstelodamensium historia’ by Johannes Pontanus: the port and town of Gamme Lamme on the island of Ternate, with local and European vessels; and a naval battle between Dutch and Portuguese ships.

These pages are probably from ‘Newe Welt und Americanische Historien’ by Johann Gottfried. There are maps of Pulau Makian (‘Ins. Macjan’) and Pulau Bacan (Ins. Bacjan) in the Maluku Islands, and a plan of a fort on Makian.

Map of the Banda Islands from Vicenzo Coronelli's ‘Corso Geografico Universale’, including a volcano on Gunappi (Banda Api), and a military fort on Nera (Banda Neira). Italian text describes the crops, trade, animals and people of the Maluku Islands.

This early 18th century map of Batavia (Jakarta) shows an important port city, with military forts, a long pier, and many ships at sea. However, the map also shows a city surrounded by fields and plantations, for producing crops and grazing animals.