Year of Object(s) Creation: 1493 (approximate)
Estimated Value ($USD): 900,000
Object Type(s): Letter(s), Manuscript
Object Material(s): ink or dye, paper
Provenience Nation: Spain
Provenience Location: Spain
Year Removed from Findspot:

Provenance

Start Year: 2018
End Year:
Circumstance of Acquisition: Returned to Spain
Nation: Spain
Location: Library of Catalonia (Barcelona)

Start Year: 2018
End Year: 2018
Circumstance of Acquisition: The United States Government recovered it from the private collector
Nation: United States
Location:

Start Year: 2012 (approximate)
End Year: 2018
Circumstance of Acquisition: Purchased by a private collector for $900,000
Nation: Brazil
Location:

Start Year: 2004
End Year: 2005
Circumstance of Acquisition: Allegedly stolen and illegally exported from the Library of Catalonia; it was replaced by a copy that was not discovered until 2012
Nation: United States
Location:

Start Year: 1917
End Year: 2004
Circumstance of Acquisition: Acquired by the Library of Catalonia at a bookstall in Madrid
Nation: Spain
Location: Barcelona

Start Year: 1493
End Year: 1917
Circumstance of Acquisition: Printed by Stephan Plannck
Nation: Italy
Location: Rome

Spanish Letter By Christopher Columbus


Description:
This is the letter/incunabulum that Christopher Columbus wrote upon his return from his first voyage to America. It was allegedly stolen and exported from the Library of Catalonia in Spain to the United States between 2004-2005. It was replaced with a fake copy, but this was not discovered until 2012. The United States and Spanish Governments collaborated to locate and recover the letter, and the United States Government recovered it in Brazil in 2018. The letter was then returned to Spain.

Case Status: Object(s) relinquished
Year Claim Initiated: 2004
Year Claim Resolved: 2018
Means of Resolution: Coordinated action by Complainant & Respondent Governments

Complainant Name: Spanish Government
Complainant Nation: Spain
Complainant Nation Economy: Developed
Complainant Type: Public: Government

Respondent Name: United States Government
Respondent Nation: United States
Respondent Nation Economy: Developed
Respondent Type: Public: Government

Reference Links:
Files:

Editor's Notes:
Edited by Keli Fisher