Waldseemüllers

Waldseemüllers refers to a group of early 16th-century German cartographers and printers, most notably Martin Waldseemüller (circa 1470–1520) and Matthias Ringmann, who operated from Saint-Dié-des-Vosges in the Duchy of Lorraine (now France). In 1507 they published Universalis Cosmographia, an ambitious world atlas accompanied by the Cosmographiae Introductio. The work is best known for its treatment of the Western Hemisphere as a distinct landmass and for introducing the name America for the newly discovered lands.

The map and accompanying text reflect a synthesis of contemporary geography and new Atlantic discoveries. The western hemisphere is labeled America sive India Nova, with the name America explained in the Introduction as a Latinized tribute to Amerigo Vespucci, whose accounts suggested a landmass separate from Asia. This naming choice helped codify the term America in European cartography and exploration.

The Waldseemüllers’ project drew on classical geographers and recent voyages, and their 1507 publication had a significant, lasting influence on subsequent maps and geography. Although only a limited number of original copies survive, important examples are held by institutions such as the Library of Congress in the United States and the Bibliothèque nationale de France. The Waldseemüllers are regarded as pivotal figures in the history of cartography for advancing a modern understanding of the world and for coining the enduring name America.