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A late 18th century map of maritime Southeast Asia by the French geographer Jacques Nicolas Bellin (1703–1772). The title refers to the ‘Stretto della Sonda’ (Sunda Strait), the strait between the islands of Sumatra and Java.

This map shows the islands of Java, Sumatra and Borneo, the straits of Sunda, Malacca and Bangka, and the Gulf of Siam. The points of the compass can be seen radiating out from a central compass rose.

This map shows the islands of Java, Sumatra and Borneo, the straits of Sunda, Malacca and Bangka, and the Gulf of Siam. The points of the compass can be seen radiating out from a central compass rose.

On this map of Java, mountains are shown pictorially and labelled with their name. The coasts are marked with shoals, reefs, bathymetry (sea depth, in figures) and anchor points. The land is divided into administrative districts.

This late 18th century map of Batavia (Jakarta) focusses on the network of canals and rivers surrounding the city, as well as the many fields and plantations, including rice fields (‘Champ de Ris’) and sugarcane (‘Cannes de Sucre’).

This mid-18th century map shows the island of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, divided by the Straits of Malacca. A note in French at the top right corner states that the interior of Sumatra and the course of its rivers are unknown.

This map shows the islands of Java, Sumatra and Borneo, the straits of Sunda, Malacca and Bangka, and the Gulf of Siam. The points of the compass can be seen radiating out from a central compass rose.

The title of this mid-18th century map of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula claims that it was based on the diaries of sailors. Interestingly, the title is repeated in both German and French, as are the names of some of the locations marked on the map.

New Guinea is shown connected to Australia (‘Nouvelle Hollande’) on this mid-18th century map. The title’s ‘Terres Australes’ means ‘southern lands’ indicating how Australia was named. The text is in French, with the title also in Dutch at the base.

The kingdoms of mid-18th century mainland Southeast Asia are shown on this map: Ava and Pegu (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Tonquin and Cochinchine (Vietnam), Camboie (Cambodia) and Laos. Rivers are also prominent, and mountains are shown pictorially.

The kingdoms of mid-18th century mainland Southeast Asia are shown on this map: Ava and Pegu (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Tonquin and Cochinchine (Vietnam), Camboie (Cambodia) and Laos. The text is in French, with the title also in Dutch at the base.

The kingdoms of mid-18th century mainland Southeast Asia are shown on this map: Ava and Pegu (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Tonquin and Cochinchine (Vietnam), Camboie (Cambodia) and Laos. The text is in French, with the title also in Dutch at the base.