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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.

Early navigation map of the South China Sea. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, while the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), both used to aid navigation. A route around the Gulf of Thailand is marked with text and the dates 1643 and 1644.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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]’.

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.

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.