In 1506, the Gymnasium obtained a French translation of the Soderini Letter, a booklet attributed to Amerigo Vespucci that provided a sensational account of four alleged Vespucci voyages to explore the coast of lands recently discovered in the western Atlantic.
The Gymnasium surmised that this was the "new world" or the "antipodes" hypothesized by classical writers.
The Soderini Letter gave Vespucci credit for discovery of this new continent and implied that newly obtained Portuguese maps were based on his explorations.
They decided to put aside the Geography for the moment and publish a brief Introduction to Cosmography with an accompanying world map.
The Introduction was written by Ringmann and included a Latin translation of the Soderini Letter.
In a preface to the Letter, Ringmann wrote 
"I see no reason why anyone could properly disapprove of a name derived from that of Amerigo, the discoverer, a man of sagacious genius.
A suitable form would be Amerige, meaning Land of Amerigo, or America, since Europe and Asia have received women's names."

 
While Ringmann was writing the Introduction, Waldseemüller focused on the creation of a world map using an aggregation of sources including maps based on the works of Ptolemy, Henricus Martellus, Alberto Cantino and Nicolò de Caverio.
In addition to a large 12-panel wall map, Waldseemüller created a smaller, simplified globe.
The wall map was decorated with prominent portraits of Ptolemy and Vespucci.
The map and globe were notable for showing the New World as a continent separate from Asia and for naming the southern landmass America.
By April 1507, the map, globe and accompanying book, Introduction to Cosmography, were published.
A thousand copies were printed and sold throughout Europe.

The Introduction and map were a great success and four editions were printed in the first year alone.
The map was widely used in universities and was influential among cartographers who admired the craftsmanship that went into its creation.
In the following years other maps were printed that often incorporated the name America.
Although Waldseemüller had intended the name to apply only to a specific part of Brazil, other maps applied it to the entire continent.
In 1538, Gerardus Mercator used America to name both the North and South continents on his influential map and by this point the name was securely fixed on the New World
In 1506, the Gymnasium obtained a French translation of the Soderini Letter, a booklet attributed to Amerigo Vespucci that provided a sensational account of four alleged Vespucci voyages to explore the coast of lands recently discovered in the western Atlantic. The Gymnasium surmised that this was the "new world" or the "antipodes" hypothesized by classical writers. The Soderini Letter gave Vespucci credit for discovery of this new continent and implied that newly obtained Portuguese maps were based on his explorations. They decided to put aside the Geography for the moment and publish a brief Introduction to Cosmography with an accompanying world map. The Introduction was written by Ringmann and included a Latin translation of the Soderini Letter. In a preface to the Letter, Ringmann wrote 
"I see no reason why anyone could properly disapprove of a name derived from that of Amerigo, the discoverer, a man of sagacious genius. A suitable form would be Amerige, meaning Land of Amerigo, or America, since Europe and Asia have received women's names."
 
While Ringmann was writing the Introduction, Waldseemüller focused on the creation of a world map using an aggregation of sources including maps based on the works of Ptolemy, Henricus Martellus, Alberto Cantino and Nicolò de Caverio. In addition to a large 12-panel wall map, Waldseemüller created a smaller, simplified globe. The wall map was decorated with prominent portraits of Ptolemy and Vespucci. The map and globe were notable for showing the New World as a continent separate from Asia and for naming the southern landmass America. By April 1507, the map, globe and accompanying book, Introduction to Cosmography, were published. A thousand copies were printed and sold throughout Europe.
The Introduction and map were a great success and four editions were printed in the first year alone. The map was widely used in universities and was influential among cartographers who admired the craftsmanship that went into its creation. In the following years other maps were printed that often incorporated the name America. Although Waldseemüller had intended the name to apply only to a specific part of Brazil, other maps applied it to the entire continent. In 1538, Gerardus Mercator used America to name both the North and South continents on his influential map and by this point the name was securely fixed on the New World
Martin Waldseemüller