This map was published by Martin Waldseemüller in 1507. It is a world map measuring 1.3 x 2.3 metres, subdivided into twelve sheets for ease of reading and transport. The representation uses Ptolemy's conical projection, but with a much wider scope than historical maps.

Waldseemüller's map has gone down in history as the first to inscribe the word America on the continent newly discovered by European explorers. This note can be seen in the lower left section within South America, which on this map still appears separated from North America by a sea passage.

It is important to note that there are other earlier maps that already depict the lands discovered by explorers, but this is the first map in which these new territories are named America, in honour of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

Sources

• Universal cosmography according to the tradition of Ptolemy and the observations of Amerigo Vespucci and others
• Waldseemüller map in very high resolution