The northwest passage is clearly identified. The continents contain a number of figures of people and of animals. Ships, sea monsters, and a mermaid adorn the seas. The heart-shaped border contains the signs of the zodiac and beyond are clouds and windheads. The dangerous southern winds are represented by skeletal heads.
Descriptive text surrounds the map.
This map is based on a 1540 map, which is now lost, prepared by Gemma Frisius. This map was included in editions of Peter Apian's Cosmographia from 1544 through 1574. Shirley has identified three somewhat similar blocks of this map. This map is from the 1st Block and is identified by the slanting word, Europe. Also, the outline of Britain lacks the names Anglia and Scotia.