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Southeast Asia is featured on the last of the four sheets of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is particularly detailed, with islands, rocks, shoals and reefs named, sometimes dated, and even marked with the name of the ship that mapped them.

On this mid-19th century map of Asia, national and regional borders are colour-coded, including colonial possessions such at the British Straits Settlements. Coastal cities, islands, shoals and reefs are marked in detail.

On this map of Asia, the South China Sea is labelled ‘Malayan Sea’. Small islands, shoals and reefs are shown. A label in Cochin China (Vietnam) reads ‘mountains inhabited by the uncivilized people called Kemoys’.

On this map of Asia, the South China Sea is labelled ‘Malayan Sea’. Small islands, shoals and reefs are shown. A label in Cochin China (Vietnam) reads ‘mountains inhabited by the uncivilized people called Kemoys’.

Southeast Asia is on the last sheet of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is labelled ‘Malayan Sea’. Small islands, shoals and reefs are shown. A label in Cochin China (Vietnam) reads ‘mountains inhabited by the uncivilized people called Kemoys’.

Map of Asia, with mainland Southeast Asia in red and divided into ancient kingdoms, Sunda Islands in yellow, and the Philippines in grey. Twelve different scales are shown, as different countries used different measurement systems.

Map of Asia, with mainland Southeast Asia in red and divided into ancient kingdoms, Sunda Islands in yellow, and the Philippines in grey. Twelve different scales are shown, as different countries used different measurement systems.

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 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.

An early 18th century navigation map, with a rhumbline network and a scale in English, French, Spanish and Dutch measurements. The cartouche includes a drawing of Asian people as primitive natives, as they were often seen in the West at the time.

Colourful hand-drawn portolan (nautical) navigation chart, featuring a rhumbline network (the web of interconnected lines), islands, shoals and reefs. With an elaborately decorated cartouche, scale and compass roses. Vellum on folding wood boards.