This deceptively simple map shows two views of the world. The main chart is a world map on a rectangular projection, similar to Mercator's projection (1569), but closer to that of Marinus of Tyre (c70-130), with two small hemispheric maps to either side of the title, which show the western and eastern hemispheres on Roger Bacon's circular projection.

In all three projections, "Terra Australis" appears as a single gigantic southern continent. New Guinea is an island, and the islands of Southeast Asia largely follow the configuration found in Ortelius's first single sheet map of the world, published in his 'Theatrum' (1570). The South American continent is disproportionately wide. The Strait of Anian separates America and Asia.

The imprint at the lower edge states that the map was created by Cornelis de Jode in November 1589 at the Academy of Douai, and published or printed by his father Gerard de Jode, indicating that the map was ready before the completion and publication of the second edition of the de Jodes's atlas 'Speculum orbis terrae' in 1593. Another theory suggests that the map was initially prepared by Gerard much earlier, hence some of the antiquated cartography, and completed by Cornelis, once Gerard was beyond the fine work needed to engrave a map like this.

The mapmakers
The 'Speculum' was first published in 1578 by Gerard de Jode (1509-1591) with text by Daniel Cellarius. It was designed to compete with Abraham Ortelius's atlas, 'Theatrum Orbis Terrarum', which had been published eight years earlier. Ortelius used his influence to disrupt de Jode's application for a royal privilege. By the time this was finally granted, seven years after the publication of the 'Theatrum', Ortelius' work had become so popular that de Jode's atlas did not sell well, despite the accuracy and clarity of his maps.

His son Cornelis (1558-1600) continued his father's publishing business after studying at Douai. He produced an enlarged edition of the 'Speculum' in 1593, which Gerard had been planning before his death. Either Cornelis or Gerard was the first person to make a globe following the geography of Mercator in the southern hemisphere; no copies of it survive to provide evidence.

Although sales of de Jode's work were less than ideal, the atlas was evidently held in high regard, with several contemporaries citing its importance alongside the atlases of Mercator and Ortelius. Few examples of either edition of the 'Speculum' have survived, making the maps within a rarity.