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A 19th century map concentrating on Southeast Asia and India. The island of Borneo is annotated with the text 'The Inland Part of this Island is inhabited by the Biayos a savage People'.

On this map of Asia, Borneo is labelled ‘The Inland Part of this Island is inhabited by the Biayos a savage People’, a description seen on many contemporary maps. The ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia are also shown.

On this map of Asia, Borneo is labelled ‘The Inland Part of this Island is inhabited by the Biayos a savage People’, a description seen on many contemporary maps. The ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia are also shown.

The ancient kingdoms of mainland Southeast Asia are shown on this 18th century map, including Ava and Pegu (Myanmar), Siam (Thailand), Tonquin (Vietnam), Laos and—between Cochin China (Vietnam) and Camboja (Cambodia)—‘A Savage Nation called KEMOYS’.

Longitude is indicated in two different ways on this mid-18th century map: along the top border, it is shown in degrees (number of degrees east of London); more unusually, along the bottom border, it is shown in time (number of hours east of London).

Notes on this map describe European colonial territories and trade with Asia, though this is concentrated around India, and mostly has not yet reached further east to ‘India extra Gangem [India beyond the Ganges]’ as Southeast Asia is labelled.

The title of this early 18th century map of Asia by the London-based cartographer Herman Moll (1654?–1732) refers to European colonial territories. These can be seen around the coast of India, but mostly had not yet reached further east.

The title of this early 18th century map of Asia by the London-based cartographer Herman Moll (1654?–1732) refers to European colonial territories. These can be seen around the coast of India, but mostly had not yet reached further east.

Map dedicated to William Cowper, whose coat of arms sits atop the cartouche. It features two horses holding a crest with three martlets (mythical birds used in heraldry). The cartouche also features Asian traders. Monsoons are marked on the map.

This map showcases the colonial territories of Southeast Asia in the 18th century, with text detailing trading information and the products of each region. There are five inset maps featuring plans of specific trading ports.

A map by the influential London cartographer, Herman Moll (1654?—1732), showing Southeast Asia in the context of the wider Asian region. Interestingly, the Strait of Malacca is labelled as the ‘Str. of Sincapora’ (Straits of Singapore).

The arrows on this map show the direction of the seasonal monsoons: each arrow has a label, indicating the month. The northeast coast of Borneo is labelled ‘A Desart [desert/deserted?] Coast’, while the south is labelled ‘Pepper Country’.