A superb double-page map of the known world published at the height of the Renaissance. It was issued in Hartmann Schedel’s ‘Nuremberg Chronicle’ published in Nuremberg in 1493. Schedel was a physician and editor of the text which is a year-by-year account of notable events in world history from the creation down to the year of publication, with special emphasis on ominous and portentous events including the invention of printing. This woodcut along with the nearly 1800 others are the work of Michael Wohlgemut (1434–1519) and his stepson Wilhelm Pleydenwurff (1460–1494). Wohlgemut is best known to have been the early tutor to Albrecht Durer who was in his workshop at the time of this works production and is generally believed to have contributed to it. The work was printed by Anton Koberger. At the time it was the most profusely illustrated book ever published. This map of the world is derived from that of Ptolemy. The map is supported by the figures of Ham, Shem and Japhet from the Old Testament and is surrounded by twelve windheads. Along the left side are one of the maps most notable features, the seven fictitious figures and creatures believed to inhabit the most far flung corners of the earth. These are drawn from the early works of Pliny, Pomponius mela, Solinus and Herodotus. This example is from the first edition printed in July 1493 with Latin text, a later issue with German text was published in December of the same year. Campbell, T. ‘Earliest’ no. 221; Moreland & Bannister no. 6; Nordenskiöld, A.E. ‘Facsimile’ p. 38; Shirley, R.W. ‘World’ 19; World Encompassed no. 44.