A precious one returns to Italy incunabulum of the letter , whereby Christopher Columbus, in 1493, returning from the Americas, announced the discovery ofthe New World ai Royals of Spain. Here is the precious artifact.

Christopher Columbus' letter returned to Italy

The incunabulum (name given to the first products of the typography) originating from the letter with which Christopher Columbus announced Ferdinand and Isabella to the Kings of Spain the discovery of the Americas, dating from 1493, stolen before 1988 from Marciana Library of Venice finally returned to Italy.

Colombo's letter was kept by a wealthy Dallas collector, later found to be the holder in good faith. The wealthy collector, after being informed, immediately returned it to the State Italianor. The checks and operations were carried out by the Carabinieri dell'arte and the American investigators of HSI (Homeland Security Investigation), with the contribution of Professor Paul Swope Needham, curator of the ancient books section of the Princeton University Library (USA).

Christopher Columbus
The portrait of Christopher Columbus

The investigation, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Rome, began as early as 2016 when another copy of Colombo's letter was recovered, stolen from the Riccardiana Library in Florence and replaced with a fake. The Carabinieri, in agreement with the judiciary, handed it over at the Marciana Library.

The letter

It is a very precious document from an archival, economic but above all historical, cultural and human point of view. Furthermore, some elements are reported that allow us to understand the great changes that will give life to modernity. The tribes, flora, fauna of the are described Caribbean islands. 

The epistle is entitled De Insulis Indiae surpasses Gangem nuper inventis; it was printed in Rome by Stephan Plannck after 29 April 1493.

The document consists of eight pages written in Latin; there are also references to the economic and commercial sector.

Click here to read the text.

Christopher Colobus' letter recovered after years of theft
Christopher Colobus' letter recovered after years of theft; photo taken from https://it.usembassy.gov/

The restitution to the Italian state

The handover ceremony was held on 19 July in Rome, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture. Present the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, the commander of the Carabinieri for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, Brigadier General Vincent Molinese, the Deputy Prosecutor of the Republic at the Court of Rome, Angelantonio Racanelli, the Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Patrick J. Lechleitner, the Chargé d'Affaires ai of the US Embassy, Shawn Crowley.

A tiring job that has given great prominence to the activities carried out by the Carabinieri of the Heritage Protection Unit to protect what is still missing from Italy in the world. The story of its recovery also demonstrates the close collaboration between Italy and the United States.

photo and text source: https://www.finestresullarte.info/

In Italy the letter of Christopher Columbus on the discovery of the New World last edit: 2023-08-07T18:17:21+02:00 da SABRINA PORTAL

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