John W. Hessler Knihy

The narrative centers on Martin Waldseemüller's groundbreaking 1507 World Map, notable for being the first to label the newly discovered continent as America. It explores the historical significance of this cartographic achievement, shedding light on the impact of exploration and the evolving understanding of geography during that era. The book delves into the cultural and political implications of naming a new land, as well as Waldseemüller's influence on future map-making and perceptions of the world.

"....In the small cathedral town of St.-Dié, Martin Waldseemüller (1475-1522) and Matthias Ringmann (1482-1511) conceived of what was to become one of the most famous, sought after, and mysterious maps in the history of cartography, a map that has become known as the 'Birth Certificate of America.' The map, printed in 1507, was the first to show the New World separated from Asia, and the first to place the name 'America' on any map. It survives in a single copy. This copy, which is one of the great masterpieces of Renaissance cartography, is now part of the vast map collection of the Library of Congress."--Prologue, p. 1