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These two mid-17th century maps cover mainland Southeast Asia, divided into kingdoms by coloured borders. Settlements and rivers are named, with the larger settlements marked pictorially with a red building symbol.

This mid-17th century map of the Sunda Isles (‘Isles de la Sonde’) includes the Malay Peninsula in addition to Sumatra, Java and Borneo. Mountain ranges and jungles are shown pictorially, and the islands and coasts feature shoals and reefs.

This map of the islands between Borneo and New Guinea features inset maps of the important spice trading islands (‘Spice Islands’): ‘Les Isles Molucques’ (Maluku Islands) and ‘Isles de Banda’ (Banda Islands).

A mid-17th century map of Asia, showing mainland Southeast Asia divided into regions such as Cochinchine, Chiampa and Tunquin (Vietnam), Sian (Thailand), Pegu, Martaban and Arracan (Myanmar), and Camboge (Cambodia).

Four long rivers flow south through mainland Southeast Asia on this map: the ‘Menan’, ‘Manthabam’ and ‘Cosmin’ originate at a mythical lake (‘Chiamai Lac’) in southern China, while the ‘Mecon’ (Mekong) flows from the hills of Cochinchina (Vietnam).

This early map of Sumatra—referred to in the accompanying French text as ‘Isle de la Taprobane’—is covered with illustrations of people working on the land, and with elephants and camels. Villages, mountains, rivers and wild animals are also shown.