World's first map of America fetches £545k (c. $1m)

[Taxloss]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4073292.stm

snip

A copy of the first map to portray the world as a globe has been bought for £545,600 at Christie's in London.
The price paid for the 1507 drawing - the first to label the New World as "America" - is a world record amount for a single sheet map.

London clock dealers Charles Frodsham and Co bought it, saying they were "over the moon" with their purchase.

snip

The map was made German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller, who followed the teachings of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.

[expatriot]

1. wow that is pretty damn good for 1507

it has the curviture of northeast South America, the East Indies, India, Africa is pretty good... including Madagascar..... pretty damn good world map for 1507.

[TahitiNut]

2. You can sure see the focus on commerce.

Slaves, spices, lumber, and other trade goods are most accurately mapped. Australia and New Zealand are non-existent.