This map was first published by Fries in 1522 with the title 'Generale Ptho' in a banner above the map, and only windhead names in the border. Another edition was made by Johannes Gruninger and Johannes Koberger in Strasbourg in 1525, with the same title banner, but with windheads and clouds added to the border. Another edition was printed by Melchior and Gasper Treschel in Lyons in 1535 without the title-banner.

Fries’ world map is a reduced and unedited version of Waldseemüller's world map included in his edition of Ptolemy’s ‘

’ of 1513. The world map maintains Ptolemaic projection and many of the traditional features, such as the ‘Mare Congelatum’ in the north, climatic divisions, and lines of longitude and latitude. There is no reference to the Americas or the newly discovered islands in the Pacific. 

Double-page woodcut map of the world, with contemporary hand-colour in full.

Embellished with original hand colour, this world map is a reduced version of 

’s famous 1513 map. It was published in 1535 by 

 for his edition of Claudius Ptolemy’s ‘

’. Fries’ version is embellished with decorative details lacking in previous editions. 

s surrounding the map are particularly animated, sporting a range of distinctive hats and floating amidst puffy, energetic clouds. 

The rarity of this map attests in part to a controversy surrounding Fries' 1535 '

'. It was edited by Michael Villanovanus, also known as Servetus, who was later accused of heresy and burnt at the stake in 1553. Of the forty-some allegations against Servetus, one was a commentary on Fries’ map of Palestine that questioned the fertility of the region. As a result, the ‘

’ was burnt with Servetus and the controversial passage was stripped from later editions.

’, from which this world map derives, was the first to be edited by the polymath Servetus. Servetus was known for his writings the challenged the Holy Trinity and the practice of infant baptism. He was charged with heresy and was burnt at the stake in 1553 on the orders of John Calvin, along with many copies of his book. The offending passage was not actually written by Servetus and had appeared previously in Fries’ 1522 and 1525 editions. It was pointedly omitted from the last edition of 1541.

Ptolemaic world map from the Servetus edition of Claudius Ptolemy’s '

Fries’ Reduction of Waldseemüller’s Ptolemaic Map