SPA 202: Intermediate Spanish

An online exhibit by the Library of Congress that traces the evolution of the famed 1492 voyage; the exhibit focuses on primary materials (text and visual) that document this event.

Digitized 1827 English translation of Columbus' first diary. Available through the Hathi Trust.

Digitized 1847 English translation of some of Columbus' correspondence. Available through the Hathi Trust.

Digitized 1906 English translation of a wide variety of documents related to Columbus and his travels. Available through the Internet Archive

In this manuscript, enscribed Cadiz, Spain, November 20, 1493, Christopher Columbus describes the new lands he has discovered, which he calls the East Indies. The manuscript is written on linen paper and bears a watermark. Available through the World Digital Library.

This small work, published in 1493, is a Latin edition of a letter by Christopher Columbus announcing his discoveries of the previous year. The work contains some of the first published images purporting to show the New World, including one depicting Columbus landing on a shore and making contact with indigenous people, and one showing the building of a town. Available through the World Digital Library.

Following his first voyage across the Atlantic, Columbus wrote a brief report on the "Islands of India beyond the Ganges." His intent was to announce his recent discoveries and to garner financial and political support for another voyage. The first edition of the letter was printed in Spanish, in Barcelona, in April 1493. Within a month, Stephan Plannck published a Latin translation in Rome. Plannck’s preamble gave credit to Fernando of Aragon for supporting the expedition but omitted any mention of Queen Isabel. Plannck soon published a corrected edition that mentioned Isabel’s role. It was this Latin edition that circulated widely and spread the news of Columbus’ discoveries throughout Europe. Available through the World Digital Library.