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Map of the Indian Ocean dominated by a rhumbline network—a web of interconnected lines used to help plot routes—with a compass rose at the centre. At the top there are (incomplete) drawings of people with text in Dutch, French, English and Spanish.

This map of the Eastern Hemisphere (Asia, Europe, Africa) shows New Guinea (‘Nouvelle Guinee’) and Australia (‘Nouvelle Hollande’) as one landmass, demonstrating that there was some uncertainty about the area’s geography in the early 18th century.

An early 18th century map of Asia by the French cartographer Guillaume Delisle (1675–1726). Regions are indicated with coloured borders, and the southern part of Borneo is labelled ‘Côte de Mahometans [Coast of the Muslims]’.

An early 18th century map of Asia by the French cartographer Guillaume Delisle (1675–1726). Regions are indicated with coloured borders, and the southern part of Borneo is labelled ‘Côte de Mahometans [Coast of the Muslims]’.

This map uses coloured borders to show the ancient kingdoms of Southeast Asia. A label on the island of Borneo states ‘Beajous Idolatres habitans le milieu de l'Isle [Beajous idolaters inhabit the middle of the Island]’.

This two-sheet map of Asia features a decorative cartouche with drawings of two women holding censers (incense burners), two cherubs, and a French coat of arms. On the map, mountains and forests are represented pictorially.

This map shows the empires, kingdoms and states of Southeast Asia. Its decorative cartouche features drawings of two women—one with a cornucopia and one with a censer (incense burner)—elephant heads, and a French coat of arms. Nine scales are shown.

This map shows the empires, kingdoms and states of Southeast Asia. Its decorative cartouche features drawings of two women—one with a cornucopia and one with a censer (incense burner)—elephant heads, and a French coat of arms. Nine scales are shown.

Map of part of Southeast Asia, featuring a maritime route from the Sunda Strait to the ports of Bantam (Banten) and Batavia (Jakarta) on Java, and then up through the Gulf of Thailand to the Kingdom of Siam. The return route is also marked.

Map of part of Southeast Asia, featuring a maritime route from the Sunda Strait to the ports of Bantam (Banten) and Batavia (Jakarta) on Java, and then up through the Gulf of Thailand to the Kingdom of Siam. The return route is also marked.

Text on this map notes that Sumatra is divided into two equal parts by the Equator, so that the days and nights are always the same length. It also notes that Java is ruled by the Dutch, though the Mataram Sultanate in central Java is also mentioned.

This map of mainland Southeast Asia features a label describing the local population of the mountains of Cochinchine (Vietnam) as ‘les Kemoi Sauvages [the Kemoi savages]’. The cartouche features a drawing of Asia with people, fields and palm trees.