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This map of Asia features four different scales: French, Russian, Turkish and Chinese. Each country had their own measuring system, so this was not uncommon at the time.

This map of Asia features four different scales: French, Russian, Turkish and Chinese. Each country had their own measuring system, so this was not uncommon at the time.

On this late 18th century map, the modern nation states of mainland Southeast Asia can be seen emerging: Myanmar (here labelled Ava), Laos, Vietnam (Tong-King and Cochinchine), Cambodia (Camboge), Thailand (Siam) and Malaysia (Malaca).

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.

A mid-18th century map showing mainland Southeast Asia divided into regions such as Pegu, Ava and Aracan (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Laos, Camboie (Cambodia), Cochinchine and Tunquin (Vietnam), and Malaca (Malaysia).

This early 18th century map of Asia features a drawing of a woman burning offerings on an altar, while two children carry cornucopias, and a camel looks on. The Roman god Mercury descends from the sky in the background wearing his winged helmet.

This early 18th century map of Asia features a drawing of a woman burning offerings on an altar, while two children carry cornucopias, and a camel looks on. The Roman god Mercury descends from the sky in the background wearing his winged helmet.

Originally published in Gerardus Mercator's ‘Atlas Sive Cosmographicae Meditationes de Fabrica Mundi et Fabricati Figura’ (1595), the title of which was the first use of the word ‘atlas’ to refer to a collection of maps. This is a 1630 reprint.

Although quite detailed for an early 17th century map of Asia, there are some inaccuracies in the representation of the islands of Southeast Asia, particularly Java (labelled 'Iaua maior'), Borneo (Burne), Sulawesi (Celebes) and the Maluku Islands.

Although quite detailed for an early 17th century map of Asia, there are some inaccuracies in the representation of the islands of Southeast Asia, particularly Java (labelled 'Iaua maior'), Borneo (Burne), Sulawesi (Celebes) and the Maluku Islands.