THE FIRST PRINTED MAP OF SOUTH AMERICA published by Giacomo Gastaldi (c. 1500-c. 1566) in his influential edition of Ptolemy’s ‘Geographia’ printed in Venice by Niccolo Bascarini for Giovanni Battista Pederzano. The Amazon River is depicted taking an unfamiliar south-westerly course. Gastaldi was born in Villafranca, Piedmont, he became Cosmographer to the Venetian Republic, then arguably the greatest Italian cartographer of the sixteenth century. He sought the most up-to-date geographical information available, and [he] became one of the greatest cartographers of the sixteenth century. The ‘Geographia’ is also the world’s first printed pocket atlas, and the first to use a mechanism to hold the plates in position so that the impression was good and level. It is also the first Italian edition of Ptolemy and the first small format atlas ever printed. Specifically designed to meet the needs of travelers so that it could be carried “nella manica or in the sleeve. Gastaldi had the maps beautifully engraved on copper which was a turning point. From this date the majority of cartographic publications used this medium. It was a harder material than wood and so gave the engraver the ability to render greater detail. Karrow, R.W. (16 c.) 30/58; Nordenskiold Collection 214; Phillips, P.L. (Atlases) 369; Shirley ‘Atlases in the British Library’ T.Ptol 9a.