Three woodcut blocks, from which the map was printed, have been identified. The current map is an impression of the first woodblock, with 'Europa' at an angle and the outline of Britain without a caption. The first woodblock was known to have been sent to Paris in 1551, and a new one cut for publication in Antwerp. In this issue of the first woodblock, the map is surrounded by text describing the nature and properties of the winds, included in a rare work, Antoine Du Pinet’s 'Plantz, Pourtraitz et Descriptions de Plusieurs Villes' (1564).

Frisus’ 'Carte Cosmographique' ('Chart of the Cosmos') is one of the first maps to show the entire east coast of North America, depicted as a narrow landmass named 'Baccalearum', after the cod fisheries off the coasts of New England and Canada. The map uses 

’s original cordiform projection (1520) and maintains the tantalising prospect of a potential Northwest Passage to Asia through the Arctic.

The map is also notable for being the first printed map to depict the Yucatán as a peninsula rather than as an island, anticipating Girolamo Ruscelli’s 1561 map of New Spain. The islands of Cuba and Hispaniola are shown disproportionally large. Many elements of Claudius Ptolemy’s geography remain such as the prominent 'Mountains of the Moon' ('Montes Lune') in Southern Africa, believed for centuries by Europeans to be the source of the Nile River. The map is decorated with small vignettes of animals, sailing ships and a mermaid. The border of the map features the Ptolemaic climatic zones (left), and the signs of the zodiac (right). The Greek god Zeus, and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, are shown atop the map while windheads in the shape of skulls reflect contemporary beliefs that southern winds brought the plague. To the left of the map, 'Climata Australia' appears just south of the equator. While this is technically the first appearance of the name ‘Australia’ on a map, it refers to a climatic zone rather than a landmass.

This cosmographic map from 1564 was created by Gemma Frisius. It is based on a cordiform map by 

, and blends classical cartography with the latest knowledge from European exploration. The work is notable as the first map to employ the term ‘Australia’ and one of the earliest to show the entire eastern seaboard of North America.

Packed with engaging decoration characteristic of the High Renaissance, ships, sea monsters, and other characters adorn the map. It is framed by signs of the zodiac and classical climate zones. The borders swirl with energetic clouds and windheads; the southern, plague-bearing winds are characterised by grinning skulls.

The map also acts as a piece work of propaganda: the Roman god Jupiter and Holy Roman Emperor Charles V gaze down on the terrestrial sphere. This likeness of the Emperor was a bold statement, legitimising his political power and celebrating his global reach. Frisus was also said to have sent the map to Charles V for his opinion, and it was sent back with the Emperors' own corrections before being published.

Gemma Frisius' map is a reduced version of Apianus' world map from 1520. This map predates their most famous work that they produced together, the 'Cosmographia Liber' (1524) which Apianus first published separately in 1524). The later edition, which featured additions by Frisius, went through no fewer than forty-five editions, was published in four languages, and was manufactured in seven cities by at least eighteen printers. The accompanying world map was included in examples from 1544 onwards.

A rare later issue of Gemma Frisius' reduced version of 

's cordiform world map (1520), this piece was produced using the first woodblock for a copy of Antoine Du Pinet's 'Plantz, Pourtraitz et Descriptions de Plusieurs Villes' (1564).  'Climata Australia' appears just south of the equator. While this is technically the first appearance of the name ‘Australia’ on a map, it refers to a climatic zone rather than a landmass. In the text of earlier editions of this map, the term 'Australia' is also used as an alternative word for 'southern'.

Frisius' Cordiform World Map