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This mid-17th century map of Southeast Asia is from Isaac Commelin’s book describing the voyages of the Dutch East India Company ‘Begin ende voortgangh…’. There is an inset map of the island of Botton (Buton Island, southeast of Celebes (Sulawesi)).

This map is illustrated with drawings of Asian people wearing traditional clothing, including representatives of Sumatra, Java and the Maluku Islands. There are also drawings of important ports such as Bantam (Banten) at the western end of Java.

As was common in this era, this map mistakenly shows the bottom of Peninsula Malaya as a separate island. The map also features illustrations of ships and a sea monster. Text on the reverse describes the people, crops, geography of the region.

This map is illustrated with drawings of Asian people wearing traditional clothing, including representatives of Sumatra, Java and the Maluku Islands. There are also drawings of important ports such as Bantam (Banten) at the western end of Java.

Early Latin map of Asia, with some inaccuracies: only a small part of Java (labelled ‘Iava Major’) is shown, the shape of Celebes (Sulawesi) is much simplified, and New Guinea is enlarged and distorted.

This 17th century map features a number of mythical lakes once thought to exist in southern China. One of these lakes (‘Chiamai Lac’) feeds three rivers—labelled ‘Menan’, ‘Manthabam’ and ‘Cosmin’—which flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

On this early 17th century map of maritime Southeast Asia, the southern coast of Java ('Iava Maior') is represented by a dotted line, indicating that the exact coastline was unknown at this time.

Early Latin map of Asia, with some inaccuracies: only a small part of Java (labelled ‘Iava Major’) is shown, the shape of Celebes (Sulawesi) is much simplified, and New Guinea is enlarged and distorted.

This 17th century map features a number of mythical lakes once thought to exist in southern China. One of these lakes (‘Chiamai Lac’) feeds three rivers—labelled ‘Menan’, ‘Manthabam’ and ‘Cosmin’—which flow south through mainland Southeast Asia.

On this early 17th century map of maritime Southeast Asia, the southern coast of Java ('Iava Maior') is represented by a dotted line, indicating that the exact coastline was unknown at this time.

The outline of the island of New Guinea is very vague on this early 17th century map of Southeast Asia. The cartouche is decorated with two figures of Asian warriors: one holds a spear, the other a sword. There are also drawings of mermaids.

On this early 17th century map of maritime Southeast Asia, the southern coast of Java ('Iava Maior') is represented by a dotted line, indicating that the exact coastline was unknown at this time.