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In the 18th century, European maps tended to use their own country’s meridian, so on this French map of Southeast Asia longitude is measured from the Paris Meridian. Eleven different scales are also shown.

This map of Asia has coloured borders around mainland Southeast Asia, the Philippines, the Sunda Islands (‘Isles de la Sonde’) and the Maluku Islands (‘Isles Moluques’). The cartouche features a drawing of a sailing ship and boxes of goods.

The arrows on this map mark the direction of the seasonal monsoons experienced around the Sunda and Maluku Islands (mainly modern Indonesia) during the late 18th century. Each arrow has a label in French, indicating the month.

The arrows on this map mark the direction of the seasonal monsoons experienced around the Sunda and Maluku Islands (mainly modern Indonesia) during the late 18th century. Each arrow has a label in French, indicating the month.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Southeast Asia. Its decorative cartouche features drawings of plants, a camel, a vase, and the heads of children blowing to represent wind. An inset shows tall buildings, possibly Asian temples.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Southeast Asia. Its decorative cartouche features drawings of plants, a camel, a vase, and the heads of children blowing to represent wind. An inset shows tall buildings, possibly Asian temples.

This map of the Sunda Isles (‘Isles de la Sonde’) (with red borders) and Maluku Islands (‘Isles Moluques’) (blue borders) also includes mainland Southeast Asia (green borders), the Philippines (yellow borders) and New Guinea (green borders).

The 20 colourful illustrations around the border of this 18th century map of Asia depict a variety of historical and biblical scenes, including the Crucifixion of Jesus and the sacking of Troy. Each scene has a description in French and Spanish.

This map of Asia is taken from Noël Antonine Pluche's ‘Concorde de la géographie des différens âges’ published in 1772.

The arrows on this map show the direction of the seasonal monsoons of Southeast Asia during the late 18th century. Each arrow has a label in French, indicating the month. The hatched sea areas are where the winds always blow in the same direction.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Asia. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner) standing on a plinth, surrounded by patterned curtains and carpet. Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines is noted on the map.

This map shows the empires and kingdoms of Asia. Its decorative cartouche features a drawing of a censer (incense burner) standing on a plinth, surrounded by patterned curtains and carpet. Magellan’s discovery of the Philippines is noted on the map.