THE DISCOVERY OF THE NEW WORLD, WITH CONTEMPORARY ILLUSTRATIONS. 1494 A.D.

[14] COLUMBUS (Christopher) and Carolus VERARDUS. Epistola. (Folio IA title) In laudem Serenissimi Ferdinandi Hispaniarum regis, Bethicae & regni Granatae, obsidio, victoria, & triumphus. Et de insulis in mari indico nuper inventis.

Roman Letter. With six fine full-page woodcuts, including a map. 4to, morocco gilt, g. e., enclosed in morocco case. Basle, Johannes Bergmann de Olpe, 21st April, 1494. (SEE ILLUSTRATIONS, PLATES Nos. II. and III.). Harrisse No. 15. Hain *15942. Church Catalogue No. 8. Medina, Vol 1, No 15. Harrisse, Discovery of North America, p. 401, No. 14.

£500

*** The Columbus letter is preceded by a drama in dialogue form on the siege and capture of Granada from the Moors by Ferdinand. It was written by Verardus and acted at Rome in 1492.

As is well known, two copies of the original epistle were written by Columbus in Spanish, one addressed to Luis de Santangel, a secretary to King Ferdinand, and the other to Gabriel (misprinted Raphael) Sanxis, treasurer of Aragon; both practically identical in other respects. The Sanxis copy was translated into Latin in Naples 29 April, 1493, by Leandro de Cosco, and this is the version now being described, and which was the only original one known prior to the discovery in recent years of the original Spanish text.

This is the famous "Second Letter of Columbus," and is the second edition of the Columbus Letter with a colophon and a definite date, but the first edition of Verardus with the Columbus letter containing the account of the Admiral's first voyage. The woodcuts are as follows:

(1) On title-page full-length portrait of King Ferdinand of Spain, crowned, dressed in full armour holding the Escutcheon of Castile and Leon in his right hand, and that of Granada in his left, and the words "Fernandus. Rex Hyspanie."

(2) Columbus and another European in a boat landing on the shores on the New World offering a goblet to the timid unclothed natives, some of whom are advancing, while others are running away; at top of the woodcut the words "Insula Hyspana" (San Domingo). A caravel in the foreground.

(3) Map of the islands discovered by Christopher Columbus during his first voyage, viz., Hispaniola, Fernandina, Ysabella, San Salvador and Santa Maria de la Concepcion.

(4) A town and fort in process of construction by the seaside on Hispania, and the words "Insula Hyspana (San Domingo).

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(5) Single Escutcheon of Castile and Leon.

(6) A fine full-page woodcut of Columbus' Admiral's ship, showing Columbus' cabin on the stern, in full sail, the words above being "Oceanica Classis.”

The reason of these two distinct works being issued together is obvious from the title-page. By them is commemorated the memorable year 1492, in which happened two events of the greatest importance to Spain, viz., the destruction of the Moorish power and the discovery of the New World.

The letter begins (translation):

Having now accomplished the undertaking upon which I set out, I know that it will be agreeable to you to be informed of all I have discovered in my voyage. On the 33rd day after I left Cadiz I reached the Indian Ocean, where I found many islands peopled by innumerable inhabitants; of all which I took possession without resistance. The islands abound in the finest variety of trees, so lofty that they seem to reach the stars. These people are of a very timid disposition, an uncommonly simple, honest people, liberal in bestowing what they possess.”

THE FAMOUS WORLD MAP, from POMPONIUS MELA, 1482. Venice, Ratdolt, 18th July, 1482.

See Item No 5.

De Infulis nuper in mari Indico repertis

"Columbus landing on the shores of the New World," from COLUMBUS LETTER, with the Six Woodcuts. Basle, 1494.

See Item No. 14.

1494 A.D.

THE FIRST PORTUGUESE REFERENCE TO AMERICA.

[15] VALASCUS (Ferdinand) [Orator cf the King of Portugal] Oratio ad Innocentium VIII. de obedientia habita.

Black Letter, 33 long lines to a full page.

4to, boards. (Rome, Stephan Plannck, about 1494).

Harrisse p. 45. Hain-Copinger 15760.

£75

ONLY ONE COPY IN THE U.S.A. (ACCORDING TO THE CENSUS), VIZ., IN THE LIBRARY OF THE LATE HENRY WALTERS OF BALTIMORE.

The passage in question reads (in translation) :

:

"He (the King) has merited well of the Church in other ways. Firstly, he sent expeditions to Ethiopia: Secondly, at that same time ten islands in the Atlantic Ocean which were hardly even known to Geographers were found by our countrymen and in all of them Portuguese colonies were founded to promote the Christian faith. It seems to me that King Alfonsus was not satisfied with promoting the Christian religion in his own dominions. He had to add new provinces, new kingdoms, new islands, and may I say it NEW AND UNKNOWN WORLDS to the name of Christ and the Church of Rome."

Pope Innocent VIII. died in July, 1492, eight months before it was known in Europe that Columbus had discovered the New World, consequently the paragraph in question could not have been in the Oration as first delivered by Valascus, but must have been an interpolation when printed in 1494, which was only a few months after Columbus' return, and when all Europe was excited over his great discovery. At that time the rival claims of Spain and Portugal was causing a great controversy as to whether the honour was due to Columbus or to the Portuguese Navigator Behaim, and both countries were consequently claiming from the Pope the possession of the New World, which the Pope eventually divided between Spain and Portugal. It is therefore likely that this paragraph was purposely inserted into the printed ORATION to claim for Portugal the discoveries in contradistinction to Spain.

1494 A.D.

[16] STRABO (Gnosius). De situ orbis e graeco Greg. Typhernale ac Guarino Veronense interpretibus.

Roman Letter, 61 long lines to a full page.
Folio, vellum.

(Venice), Johannes (Rubeus), 24th April, 1494.

Hain 15090.

£10 10s

Strabo, the Greek historian and geographer, was born at Amasia, in Cappadocia, about B.C. 50, and travelied through Greece, Italy, and Asia, endeavouring to obtain the most accurate information with regard to geography, statistics and political conditions of the countries which he visited. His great work contains in seventeen volumes not only a description of different countries, but the chief particulars of their history, notices of eminent men, and accounts of the manners and customs of the people. The first French translator said that it contained nearly the whole history of knowledge from the time of Homer to that of Augustus.

1495 A.D.

[17] MELA (Pomponius). Cosmographia seu de situ orbis. Roman Letter, 27 long lines to a full page. Woodcut initial letters. 4to, vellum.

(Venice, Christopherus de Pensis, about 1495.)

Hain *11013.

£12 12s

Of Pomponius Mela nothing whatever is known, but he is believed to have lived in the time of the Emperor Claudius. This is one of the earliest geographical works, the editio princeps of which appeared in 1471. It is written in a clear and simple style, and, notwithstanding its conciseness, is enlivened with interesting descriptions of manners and customs.

PLINY A FOOL FOR STATING THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY NEW LANDS TO BE DISCOVERED.

1497 A.D.

[18] BRANT (Sebastian).

Fools.]

Stultifera Navis.

[The Ship of

Roman Letter.

With remarkable satirical woodcuts.

Small 4to. Citron morocco, Greek fillet border on sides, inside dentelles, g. e., by Bozerian.

Basel, Johannis Bergman de Olpe, 1st August, 1497.

£31 10s

Harrisse B.A.V. Additions No. 5. Church Catalogue No. 13. Hain *3750.

Sebastian Brant, a German satirical poet, wrote the "Ship of Fools," a poem which enjoyed considerable popularity in its time, and was translated into Latin and the principal European languages. The popularity of this work is attested by the fact that four different editions of the Latin edition were pub lished in 1497.

There is a passage which is of interest for its early allusion to the New World, in which Brant repudiates the errors of Pliny and Ptolemy for stating that there was no land beyond the sea to the West, and gives a full-page engraving of Pliny as a "Fool."

1498 A.D. [19] SOLINUS. De memorabilibus mundi.

Black Letter, 40 lines to a full page.

4to, vellum.

Venice, Johannes Rubeus, 10th March, 1498.

Hain *14885.

£10 10s

Solinus was a Roman geographer, probably of the third century. His compilation "De memorabilibus mundi," was a great favourite in the Middle Ages. It was first translated into English by Arthur Golding in 1587.