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Navigation map of the southern part of the South China Sea, including the straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the Riau Archipelago. Bathymetry (sea depth), lighthouses, shoals and other obstructions are marked, with hills to use as landmarks.

Navigation map of the southern part of the South China Sea, including the straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the Riau Archipelago. Bathymetry (sea depth), lighthouses, shoals and other obstructions are marked, with hills to use as landmarks.

Map of the Dutch colonial administrative region (residency) of Riouw (Riau) focusing on the islands and sea passages, with bathymetry (sea depth) marked. (From ‘Algemeene Atlas van Nederlandsche Indie [General Atlas of the Dutch East Indies]’.)

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.

This map of the Straits of Malacca features shoals and reefs, bathymetry (sea depth), drawings of side views of landmark mountains (elevations), all designed to aid navigation. The various straits used around Singapore are also marked.

Hand-drawn map of islands in the Riau Archipelago, with bathymetry (sea depth) marked. It features side views of hills (‘elevations’) to use as landmarks, including ‘Jehore hill’, probably in Johor at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula.

Early navigation map of the South China Sea. The web of lines is a rhumbline network, while the numbers indicate sea depth (bathymetry), both used to aid navigation. A route around the Gulf of Thailand is marked with text and the dates 1643 and 1644.

A brightly-coloured hand-drawn map of the South China Sea. The compass is at the centre of a rhumbline network, a web of lines to aid navigation. Bathymetry (sea depth), islands, anchor points, shoals and reefs are also marked.