Search

This mid-19th century map of Asia has colour-coded borders that show the beginnings of the emergence of the modern nation states of Southeast Asia, such as Laos, Burmah (Burma), Siam (Thailand) and Malaya (Malaysia).

On this map of Asia, colours are used to show the colonial territories of the European powers: cities in the Philippines are underlined in blue, indicating they are Spanish; the Dutch East Indies are in yellow (Dutch); and Singapore is red (British).

On this map of Asia, colours are used to show the colonial territories of the European powers: cities in the Philippines are underlined in blue, indicating they are Spanish; the Dutch East Indies are in yellow (Dutch); and Singapore is red (British).

On this map of Asia, borders are outlined and cities underlined in different colours to show the colonial territories of the European powers: Russian, British, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Danish.

On this map of Asia, borders are outlined and cities underlined in different colours to show the colonial territories of the European powers: Russian, British, Dutch, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Danish.

This map of Asia is from the earliest version of ‘Stielers Handatlas’ by the German cartographers Adolf Stieler and Christian Gottlieb Reichard. The maps were initially published separately; later editions compiled them into book form.

This map of Asia is from the earliest version of ‘Stielers Handatlas’ by the German cartographers Adolf Stieler and Christian Gottlieb Reichard. The maps were initially published separately; later editions compiled them into book form.

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.

Three sheets of a late 17th century map of Asia, with Southeast Asia on the third sheet. The oceans are decorated with drawings of sailing ships, and there is a detailed scene of Asian merchants, including a chained and kneeling slave and a camel.