The first map known to have named the great landmass of the Western Hemisphere "America" has been acquired by the Library of Congress for U.S. ten million dollars. Described as "one of the greatest finds of the modern age" after it was lost for more than two centuries, the 1507 map of the entire world included data gathered by explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
"This is the most impressive acquisition, without a doubt," said John Hebert, chief of the geography and map division at the Library of Congress.
"There are items that precede [1507], but this makes a whole segment of the world known—or named… It is one of the top jewels in the world collection; it is the first map, literally, that pulls us all together 360 degrees in its correct positioning in the world."
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