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Southeast Asia is featured on the last of the four sheets of this map of Asia. The South China Sea is particularly detailed, with islands, rocks, shoals and reefs named, sometimes dated, and even marked with the name of the ship that mapped them.

From ‘Lizars' Edinburgh Geographical General Atlas’, this mid-19th century map was based on an earlier map by the English cartographer John Cary. It highlights the mountain ranges and rivers of Southeast Asia, and also features many place names.

Based on the British ethnologist James Cowles Prichard’s book ‘Natural History of Man’, this map shows the location of ethnicities in Asia. In Southeast Asia, the races are listed as ‘Arakan’, ‘Pegu’, ‘Thay or Siamese’, ‘Anam’ and ‘Pelagian’.

Although this mid-19th century map covers all of mainland Southeast Asia, the Burman Empire (Myanmar) is shown in greater detail, especially its districts, rivers and place names. It was produced by the James Wyld, geographer to Queen Victoria.

A mid-19th century map colour-coded with British, French, Portuguese, Danish and Dutch colonial possessions in India and western Southeast Asia, as well as the ‘Native States’. A table lists the dates when the British acquired each area.

Dutch map of the East Indies, with mountain ranges represented by simple hachure marks, and just a few rivers marked. Mainland Southeast Asia is labelled ‘Achter Indie [Beyond India]’.

Dutch map of the East Indies, with mountain ranges represented by simple hachure marks, and just a few rivers marked. Mainland Southeast Asia is labelled ‘Achter Indie [Beyond India]’.

Regional borders are colour-coded on this mid-19th century map of mainland Southeast Asia, with British colonial territory in red (including part of the Burman Empire, the Straits Settlements, and Sarawak on Borneo).

On this mid-19th century map of Asia, national and regional borders are colour-coded, including colonial possessions such at the British Straits Settlements. Coastal cities, islands, shoals and reefs are marked in detail.

Mainland Southeast Asia is labelled ‘Indo-Chine’ on this mid-19th century map, with ancient kingdoms (e.g. Empire Birman) and colonial possessions (e.g. Straits Settlements) highlighted with colour. Major mountain chains and rivers are also named.

This mid-19th century map of mainland Southeast Asia is divided into regions with colour-coded borders. The Birman Empire/Birmah (Myanmar) is the most detailed, with 10 provinces marked and listed in the map’s legend.

This colourful map of Asia has an elaborate cartouche featuring two Asian men talking—one carries a bow, the other smokes a long pipe—while a lion sits nearby. The scale is also illustrated, with drawings of Asian birds.