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A mid-17th century map of Asia decorated with a border of drawings of Asian cities and Asian rulers, including the port of Bantam (Banten) at the western end of Java, and a portrait of ‘Rex Moluccae’ the ‘king’ of the Moluccas (Maluku Islands).

The north coast of New Guinea is mapped here as it was discovered by the Dutch explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten. He is named on the map as Guillaume Schouten de Hoorn, known as the first to sail from Europe to the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn.

The north coast of New Guinea is mapped here as it was discovered by the Dutch explorer Willem Corneliszoon Schouten. He is named on the map as Guillaume Schouten de Hoorn, known as the first to sail from Europe to the Pacific Ocean via Cape Horn.

This map shows the route of the first Dutch expedition to Southeast Asia in 1595-7. Led by Cornelis de Houtman, it was an attempt to enter the spice trade. The route crosses east over the Indian Ocean, circles the island of Java, and returns west.

A map featuring drawings of plants used to make spices in the Moluccas or Spice Islands: Nux Myristica (nutmeg), Cariophilorum arbor (cloves), Santalum flavum (yellow sandalwood), Santalum rubrum (red sandalwood), Santalum album (Indian sandalwood).