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The Stuart and Mimi Rose Collection /

The Columbus Letter

Item 2A

The Columbus Letter

1494
Incunabula

At the end of the 15th century, a group of Europeans, led by Christopher Columbus and financed by the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille, accidently landed on the island known by its inhabitants as Guanahani on their way to Asia. This singular episode set off a chain of events that transformed European cultures and Indigenous cultures in the Americas and continues to reverberate today. On his return to Spain, Columbus addressed several letters to the Catholic monarchs who had financed his expedition, which were printed and circulated throughout Europe. Columbus greatly exaggerated what he had observed, setting the stage for Europeans to colonize the Americas, leading to the decimation of the Indigenous populations.


What will you discover next?

Visit the Folger to see this object on exhibit

Imprints in Time

Imprints in Time

This special exhibition at the Folger features rare books from the collection of Stuart and Mimi Rose that present literary, cultural, and historical high points.
Through Sun, Jan 5, 2025
Rose Exhibition Hall