For over two centuries, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai has been known for its collection of historically significant books and documents. Among its archives sits another treasure—rare vintage maps that document the visual artistry of cartographers and their composition of India through the ages.

This month, with the help of the Rotary Club of Bombay, a selection of 30 maps will be displayed at an exhibition titled Meandering Through a Mapped Canvas. Vispi Balaporia, president, The Asiatic Society of Mumbai, says this was long in the offing. “The idea was mooted five years ago by the-then secretary of the Ministry of Culture. The first step was finding an expert cartographer, which wasn’t easy, and, unfortunately, a large part of this collection was tucked away in the basement where we occasionally end up ‘discovering things.’”