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Produced by the British Admiralty’s Hydrographic Office, this map includes various navigational aids, such as maritime routes, bathymetry (sea depth), tide and current data, and elevations (side views of hills and mountains to use as landmarks).

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.

This map of the Straits of Malacca features shoals and reefs, bathymetry (sea depth), drawings of side views of landmark mountains (elevations) and written observations, all designed to aid navigation.

A map of the China Sea between Malaya, Sumatra and Borneo. The numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), and there are drawings of the side views of some of the islands (elevations), both used to aid navigation. Some maritime routes are also marked.

A late 18th century navigation map of the waters between the islands of Java, Madura and Bali. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), and there is an inset map of the Bay of Ballambouang, Java.

This map uses colour to identify regions in late 18th century Southeast Asia, many of which roughly correspond to modern countries: Pegu=Myanmar, Tonkin/Cochin China=Vietnam, Lao =Laos, Siam=Thailand, Malaya=Malaysia, Philippin Islands=Philippines.

This mid-18th century map of Southeast Asia includes written notes on goods produced and traded, geographical features, and wild animals found in each part of the region.

A mid-18th century plan of Batavia (Jakarta), the main port of the Dutch East India Company's trading network in Southeast Asia. Ships can be seen transporting goods along ‘The Great River’ to the sea, overseen by Batavia Castle at the river’s mouth.

This mid-18th century map of Southeast Asia includes written notes on goods produced and traded, geographical features, and wild animals found in each part of the region.

A simple mid-18th century map featuring Borneo, Java, Celebes (Sulawasi) and many other smaller islands as far as New Guinea to the east, and Timor to the south. The only details are the names of the islands and some larger settlements.

A simple mid-18th century map featuring Sumatra and Johore (Peninsula Malaysia), and many small islands including Singapore. The only details are the names of the islands and some larger settlements.

A map by the influential London cartographer, Herman Moll (1654?—1732), showing Southeast Asia in the context of the wider Asian region. Interestingly, the Strait of Malacca is labelled as the ‘Str. of Sincapora’ (Straits of Singapore).