The map originally appeared in a 1520 edition of Julius Caius Solinus’s 'Polyhistor', a third-century compilation of history and geography based largely on the works of Pliny the Elder and 

. It may also have been issued separately.

In 1522, a second printing of 

’s map was made, possibly to accompany 

’s 'De Situ Orbis' (1522). However, at that point, the woodblock had begun to deteriorate, and defects are apparent in these subsequent printings, which are not present here.

’s monumental twelve-sheet world map of 1507 to create this work, mimicking its geographic features, the style of woodcut, and the cordiform shape. He may have also been influenced by the globes of Johannes Schöner. Despite relying heavily on these sources, Apianus provided several new contributions: the Americas are shown as separate from Asia, and a sea passage is included between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the tip of South America. This is the waterway navigated and 'discovered' by Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 - the year before Apianus’s map was published - but the expedition would not return until September 1522. The appearance of the passage on this map supports the theory that Apianus and Magellan were aware of prior voyages that had reached the Pacific of which we have no record (Shirley).

This important early map of the 'entire globe' from 1520 was published by 

. Cartographically, it is predominantly based on 

's extraordinary twelve-sheet wall map of 1507 - colloquially known as 'America's birth certificate' - and also the accounts from the voyages of Amerigo Vespucci. This map is one of the earliest maps to use the word 'America' to name the '

'. Here, America is depicted separate from Asia, and a sea passage is shown between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the tip of South America.

The flamboyant, densely engraved cordiform projection is surrounded by an eleborate border featuring eleven windheads representing the cardinal winds, and other elements of classical cartography, such as the five climatic zones of habitability. 

Produced early in his career while attending the prestigious Second Mathematical and Astronomical School based at the University of Vienna, Apianus’s 1520 world map is one of the most important early maps of the world. It is also the second map to name America, preceded only by Waldseemüller’s twelve-sheet map of the world. Apianus was assisted by the engraver 

 in the production of this map whose initials appear on either side of a garland in the lower right corner of the decorative border. 

Made thirteen years after Waldseemüller’s influential wall map, Apianus’s work shows the influence of its predecessor. Both Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Columbus are referenced in an inscription on South America, with the former giving namesake to the '

': "Anno d[omini] 1497 hec terra cum adiacetibo insulis inuenta est per Columbum Ianuensem ex mandato Regis Castello America Princia" ("In the year 1497, this land with the adjacent islands was found by Columbus by order of King Castello, Prince of America").

Although the name 'America' is retained, it is Columbus’s 'discovery' of the adjacent islands of America that is brought to the fore. This is possibly due to contemporary controversy over Waldseemüller’s championing of Vespucci being the earliest observer of the '

' - seemingly at the expense of Columbus. Apianus’s use of the name ‘America’ here, and in his 'Cosmographicus Liber' of 1524, would continue to popularise it. Prior to the revelation of Waldseemüller’s landmark work in 1901, this map by Apianus was thought to be the source. Unusually, Waldseemüller’s Ptolemaic map of 1513 does not resemble his wall map of 1507, making this world map by the earliest obtainable example of Waldseemüller cartography. 

This is the first issue of Apianus's highly decorative cordiform (heart-shaped) map of the world; one of the earliest maps available to the collector to name 'America'.

Apianus's Cordiform World Map