Primary Sources on Christopher Columbus’ Journey to the New World

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Christopher Columbus’ Journey to the New World:

My final project topic will focus on Christopher Columbus’s journey and discovery to America also known as the New World in 1492. Here are 3 primary sources related to Christopher Columbus and his journey in 1492. Each of these primary sources explain his journey through various sources.

World Map of 1482:

This is map that Christopher Columbus used to set sail for the New World. This map was used to navigate Christopher Columbus and his ship during his voyage to the New World. The most popular map for mariners at that time was printed in 1482 but originally compiled by the Alexandrian geographer, astronomer, and mathematician Claudius Ptolemy in the second century A.D. (https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-03/)

Germanus, Donnus Nicolaus. World Map, Cosmographia, Claudius Ptolemaeus Ulm. (1482: Thacher Collection): https://www.loc.gov/item/today-in-history/august-03/

Letters from Christopher Columbus during his journey:

This is a series of letter Christopher Columbus wrote after his first transatalnatic voyage, where he is writing this letters to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain on his encounter of an island, filled with innumberable people, and find their Highness. These copies of his manuscripts were made as court officials and published in April 1493 and written by Christopher Columbus. These copies of Columbus’ letters came from the Library of Congress of Rare Book and Special Collections Division. (https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/exploring-the-early-americas/columbus-and-the-taino.html)

Columbus, Christopher. Epistola Christofori Colom (Letters of Christopher Columbus). (Rome: Stephen Planneck: 1493): https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/exploring-the-early-americas/columbus-and-the-taino.html

Spanish Coat of Arms of 1493:

The Coat of Arms was awarded to Christopher Columbus from the Spanish Sovereigns due to his successful journey of discovery to America. According to the blazon, this was dated on May 20th, 1493. The Coat of Arms that Columbus was awards the royal charges of Castile and Léon (the castle and the lion) but with different tinctures or colors. In the third quarter would be islands in a wavy sea, and in the fourth is the customary arms of his family. The Coat of Arms came from Christopher Columbus’s own book of privileges from 1502, published by Henry Harrisse in 1893. The Coat of Arms came from the Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division. (http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/1492/columbus.html).

Harrisse, Henry. “Columbus’ Coat of Arms in Christopher Columbus.” Christopher Columbus’s own book of privileges from 1502. (London: B.F. Stevens: 1893): http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/1492/columbus.html

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