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Map of some of the Maluku islands around the Banda Sea, colour-coded by their administrative region, and with an elevation showing heights of mountains. (From ‘Algemeene Atlas van Nederlandsche Indie [General Atlas of the Dutch East Indies]’.)

Map of Amboina (Ambon) and surrounding islands just south of Ceram (Seram). An elevation (side view) of the islands shows the heights of their mountains. (From ‘Algemeene Atlas van Nederlandsche Indie [General Atlas of the Dutch East Indies]’.)

Four world maps showing the distribution of reptiles and snakes, including in Southeast Asia. Lines show the geographical range of individual species, alongside illustrations of some of the animals featured.

This detailed map of the Dutch East Indies in the mid-19th century is spread over eight sheets, plus a cover sheet showing the whole area. There are numerous inset maps of islands, bays, cities etc.

This map of the Dutch East Indies is spread over eight sheets, with a hand-drawn cover sheet showing the whole area. There are numerous inset maps of islands, bays, cities etc. Two of the inset maps have a replacement map pasted over them.

The London-based cartographer Herman Moll (1654?–1732) created this map of New Guinea and the neighbouring islands of maritime Southeast Asia. It shows that in the 1730s, the details of New Guinea and Australia (‘New Holland’) were uncertain.

Although mainly a navigation map—with a rhumbline network and elevations of mountains—there are also many terrestrial details shown, such as settlements and mountains. The inset map of Hoeamohel details plantations and the cultivation of nut crops.

The north coast of New Guinea is mapped here as it was discovered by the Dutch explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten. He is named on the map as Guillaume Schouten de Hoorn, known as the first to sail from Europe to the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn.

This map shows the route of the Dutch explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten, crossing the Pacific Ocean from South America to New Guinea. He was the first explorer to sail from Europe to the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn.

The north coast of New Guinea is mapped here as it was discovered by the Dutch explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten. He is named on the map as Guillaume Schouten de Hoorn, known as the first to sail from Europe to the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn.