A magnificent and much larger map than Forlani’s previous two, and unlike it’s predecessors does not derive from Giacomo Gastaldi's map of 1546, but from his large ten sheet world map dated circa 1561.

The work is on an oval projection, showing North and South America with great accuracy, although North America is still shown joined to Asia; the oceans are populated by wonderful sea monsters and many sailing ships; in the border two wind-heads with insect wings appear in the upper corners, and in the lower corners are Bertelli's imprint and legend. However, this map has a significant addition, with the large southern continent shown and labeled ‘Terra Incognita’, and populated with imaginary topographical features as well as unlikely animals – among them a camel, an elephant, a lion, a rhinoceros and most outlandish, a griffin and a unicorn.

By 1565, Forlani’s maps of northern North America included the label ‘Nueva Franza’ to recognize the growing French role in exploring what was still a little-known continent. Despite Gastaldi pioneering the idea of separate Asian and American continents with the addition of the Strait of Anian in 1562, Forlani disregards this advance. North America is still shown joined to Asia, but many of the eastern coastal features compare well with modern maps; proof that Forlani was skilled at incorporating the latest knowledge about North America's shape from existing charts and explorers' descriptions.  Florida and Cuba, for example, are quite accurately positioned.

Forlani’s large world map was published in 1565, the year before Venice would reach what David Woodward calls the “zenith of map engraving”. The map is highly decorative, featuring two cherubs in the top corners blowing the winds.  In the lower corners are lines of text, including a dedication to Bartolomeo Zacco.

Ferando Bertelli (fl 1556-1572) and Forlani worked together on many maps. Bertelli was one of the most prolific of Venetian map publishers and engravers, who also sold composite atlases and worked at various times with other greater names in Venetian cartography - Giovanni Francesco Camocio and Domenico Zenoi. 

The present map is an example of the third state, with Forlani’s imprint erased, leaving just the mark of the ‘P’ above the ‘b’ of ‘bertelli’.