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 and 

. It may also have been issued separately. It was published by Johannes Camertius, whose initials appear in the lower left corner, on either side of a garland containing the monogram of Luca Alantses, who paid for its production. 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 world map of 1513 (see SC-TM-1513-Waldseemuller-PWorldMap) to create this work, mimicking its geographic features, style of woodcut, and cordiform shape. He may have also imitated 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 passage is detailed between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the tip of South America. This is the route that Ferdinand Magellan voyaged to discover 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. 

 (1495–1552) studied at the University of Leipzig from 1516 to 1519, where he adopted the Latinised version of his German name. In 1519, he moved to Vienna, where he was part of the second Vienna School of 

, which included Georgius Tannstetter and Johannes Cuspinianus. He then moved again to Landshut, where he produced the ‘Cosmographicus Liber’ in 1524, an extremely popular work on astronomy and navigation that was reprinted thirty times. He was later appointed printer at the University of Ingolstadt and eventually to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor to whom Apianus dedicated his most famous work, 'Astronomicum Caesareum’, in 1540 (see SC-B-1540-Apianus-AstronomicumCaesareum).

Produced early in his career while part of the Vienna school, Apianus’s 1520 world map is one of the most important early maps of the world, and the second map to name America, preceded only by 

’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 the garland at the lower right corner. 


This map of the ‘entire globe’ was conceived by 

. It builds on earlier knowledge, particularly from 

 and Amerigo Vespucci, and is one of the earliest maps to use the word ‘America’ to name the 

.

The flamboyant, densely engraved cordiform projection is surrounded by windheads and includes elements of classical cartography, such as climatic zones. America is separate from Asia, and a sea passage is shown between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans at the tip of South America.


’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 as the discoverer 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 popularize it, and before the rediscovery of Waldseemüller’s work in 1901, it was thought to be the source.

A very fine example of this highly decorative cordiform (heart-shaped) map of the world; the first issue of the earliest obtainable map to name ‘America’.

Apianus World Map, showing 'America'