If you like maps like this, you will also like the globe produced by Martin Behaim in 1491, which (obviously) doesn't show the americas: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdapfel" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erdapfel</a>
I'd love to see this map projected onto a current map (or even satellite imagery) to see what sort of accuracy they were able to achieve back then. It is quite a feat to gather all that information and compile it into a single (large) image!
This is one of <i>many</i> interesting things hiding in the stacks of the maps division of the LOC, if you ever get an opportunity for a private tour - though I'm not sure if every one of those dips into the vault.<p>My strongest memory is of the WW2 Normandy beaches invasion map, done as an architectural model. Also, in the reading room, they keep a personal presidential globe - <a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/churchill/interactive/_html/wc0001_3.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/churchill/interactive/_html/wc00...</a>
It amazes me how maps like this were made... I presume it was using navigation tools to determine the place on the globe? I just can't imagine how to draw a map when having nothing but navigation tools.
The Original Size image is crashing my Chrome: <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Waldseemuller_map_2.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/Waldseemu...</a>
Anyone know a good source for getting a high quality print of this image? Saw a few sources googling but not sure if I should trust them for print resolution/quality.