The map was drawn by Bartholomeu Velho in 1561. The shape of South America is similar to that of Linschoten's or Blaeu's map of the continent. The souvenir sheet was issued in 1994 to mark the 500th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas which divided the world between Spain and Portugal. The arms of Portugal and Spain appear on the map on either side of the Treaty line.