In 1493, Christopher Columbus penned a missive that would irrevocably alter the course of the modern world. His words chronicled his voyage to the Indies, undertaken with the blessing of the illustrious King and Queen, granting him claim to numerous islands inhabited by a multitude of people. Columbus asserted ownership on behalf of his sovereigns in a manner that would forever reverberate through history.
Fast forward to today, and the once-heroic image of Columbus has been overshadowed by widespread recognition of his exploitative actions. Nevertheless, this missive, or rather a rare 1493 Latin translation of it, printed on an early press to disseminate Columbus’s “discoveries” to Europe’s elite, is poised to command a staggering £1.2 million ($1.5 million) at an upcoming Christie’s auction.
In contemporary times, Columbus has lost his exalted status as an all-American hero and a quasi-founder. Nonetheless, infamy seldom diminishes market value, a fact exemplified by figures like Donald Trump, notes Columbus biographer Professor Felipe Fernández-Armesto.
It is important to note that Columbus was entirely unaware that he had encountered North America, believing instead that he had reached islands proximate to Japan. Yet, his journey inaugurated a commercially viable route across the Atlantic, fostering intercultural connections across the ocean that had long been estranged.
The missive, which extolled the lush natural wealth of the islands Columbus encountered, and portrayed the native inhabitants as exceptionally trusting and generous, has since been recognized by historians as a form of propaganda heralding the commencement of European colonization in the New World.
Columbus’s exploitation of the resources in this purportedly “new” hemisphere set the stage for European nations to vie with China, Islamic nations, and India in terms of power and wealth, while concurrently subjecting populations worldwide to enslavement and exploitation. Whether lauded or vilified, Columbus’s role in history is undeniable, asserts Fernández-Armesto.
This document has languished in a private Swiss collection for nearly a century and is heralded by Christie’s as “the earliest obtainable edition of Columbus’s letter,” which triggered one of the earliest “media frenzies” in the history of printed communication.
Professor Geoffrey Symcox from the University of California, Los Angeles, emphasizes the letter’s significance, attributing it to the wide dissemination achieved through the printing press. Copies dispatched by the Spanish crown reached the courts of Europe, cementing Spain’s territorial claims. Symcox notes that the news spread not only through diplomatic channels but also mercantile ones.
Cuban-American medieval historian Professor Teo Ruiz highlights Columbus’s adeptness at public relations. Columbus ensured that the world knew of his westward journey to the Indies (a collective term for India and the Far East), even though it was not true. Previous explorers had hesitated to venture westward due to fears of being unable to return home. However, Columbus, the self-taught son of a weaver, engaged in a series of unconventional calculations without standardized measurements, postulating that the world was 25% smaller than it is. He persuaded King Ferdinand II and Isabella I of Spain to sponsor his expedition westward in search of a new sea route to Asia, thereby challenging Portugal’s monopoly on the spice trade.
In a case of confirmation bias, Columbus proclaimed himself to be in the far east upon reaching land, although he had actually arrived in the West Indies. He proceeded to explore Cuba, Haiti, and San Domingo, entirely unaware of the existence of these islands, as Ruiz elucidates.
Columbus had unwittingly harnessed the prevailing winds to chart a southwestern course to the American continent via the Canary Islands, demonstrating how following these winds opened new avenues for long-range navigation and trade. This laid the foundation for the “Columbian Exchange,” a phenomenon involving the irreversible exchange of people, flora, fauna, diseases, ideas, and commodities across the Atlantic.
Professor William Phillips, a Columbus expert at the University of Minnesota, underscores that Columbus didn’t fully grasp the significance of his achievements. The missive he wrote was, in essence, an example of 15th-century “fake news” – self-promotion and propaganda.
Additionally, Columbus’s letter introduced the concept of the “noble savage,” portraying the indigenous people he encountered as innocent forest-dwellers ripe for European “civilization.” However, his later role as a brutal colonial governor and viceroy marked a stark departure from this image. Columbus subjected the Taíno people of the Caribbean to forced labor, harsh punishments, enslavement, massacres, and extreme cruelty. Many fell victim to diseases like smallpox and measles, brought by the Spaniards. Within decades of Columbus’s arrival, a significant portion of the Taíno population had succumbed to enslavement, massacres, or disease.
In light of these darker aspects of European intrusion into the Americas, Columbus has been reevaluated by historians, transitioning from being celebrated as the first explorer to being recognized as the first exploiter. The United States has seen the removal and vandalism of Columbus statues and monuments, with numerous states opting to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.