The First Delineation Of The New World And The First Use Of The Name America On A Printed Map; An Analytical Comparison Of Three Maps For Each Of . And One Without) With An Argument Tending

Few moments in cartographic history are as charged as the instant the New World first appears on paper and is christened 'America'. Maps reshape how history begins. In this classic exploration history monograph, Henry Newton Stevens follows the trail of three seminal Renaissance maps in order to understand how Europeans first drew, named and imagined the western hemisphere. With meticulous care he offers a precise new world map analysis, weighing rival claims of priority and focusing on the extraordinary sheet uncovered in 1893 and preserved in the John Carter Brown Library at Providence. Conceived as a rigorous historical cartography study, the work compares coastlines, inscriptions and technical details to determine which of the competing charts truly holds precedence as one of the first maps of America and the first printed use of the name America. Along the way it opens a window onto age of discovery maps, the history of early atlases and the wider currents of Renaissance new world cartography. Both a lucid narrative of European exploration cartography and a dependable academic research reference, it remains invaluable for map collectors, historians of science and anyone intrigued by how knowledge travels across engraved lines. Out of print for decades and now republished by Alpha Editions. Restored for today's and future generations. More than a reprint - a collector's item and a cultural treasure, this volume stands as an essential early maps reference for map collectors and classic-literature enthusiasts alike, preserving a landmark inquiry into the origin of name America.