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This late 19th century map shows the disputed border region between Siam (Thailand, Laos) and Tongkin (Vietnam), with the border claimed by Siam highlighted in yellow. Provinces along the border are labelled with the names of their local tribes.

Map highlighting areas of eastern Siam (Thailand) claimed by France. Notes describe Siam’s geography, government, population, military and trade (rice, teak, pepper, bullocks, fish, hides, tin, cardamom, tin), including trading partners by tonnage.

The seas of the Dutch East Indies are the focus of this map, with maritime routes, sea temperature, sea depth, currents and monsoons shown. There are graphs of population by ethnicity, agriculture and livestock, trade and shipping, and trade exports.

A map of Southeast Asia coloured to indicate the five different language families spoken in the region in the late 19th century. Names of indigenous tribes/languages are marked in red text, with European colonial possessions in grey.

A map of Southeast Asia coloured to indicate the five different language families spoken in the region in the late 19th century. Names of indigenous tribes/languages are marked in red text, with European colonial possessions in grey.

On this map of Asia, colours are used to show the colonial territories of the European powers, and to show Muslim and Buddhist regions: Sumatra is divided between the Netherlands and local rulers; the Straits Settlements underlined in red (British).

On this map of Asia, colours are used to show the colonial territories of the European powers, and to show Muslim and Buddhist regions: Sumatra is divided between the Netherlands and local rulers; the Straits Settlements underlined in red (British).

Based on the British ethnologist James Cowles Prichard’s book ‘Natural History of Man’, this map shows the location of ethnicities in Asia. In Southeast Asia, the races are listed as ‘Arakan’, ‘Pegu’, ‘Thay or Siamese’, ‘Anam’ and ‘Pelagian’.

Brief notes printed on this 19th century map of Southeast Asia provide details about each region, including: numbers and ethnicity of the population, local or colonial rulers, crops and products, geography (corals, forests, volcanos, earthquakes).

A mid-19th century German map of mainland Southeast Asia showing a mixture of ancient kingdoms (e.g. Birma, Siam, Anam) and the colonial possessions of Britain (Malaya, Straits Settlements) and Denmark (Nicobar Islands).

A mid-19th century German map of mainland Southeast Asia showing a mixture of ancient kingdoms (e.g. Birma, Siam, Anam) and the colonial possessions of Britain (Malaya, Straits Settlements) and Denmark (Nicobar Islands).

A mid-19th century German map of mainland Southeast Asia showing a mixture of ancient kingdoms (e.g. Birma, Siam, Anam) and the colonial possessions of Britain (Malaya, Straits Settlements) and Denmark (Nicobar Islands).