Columbus Letter on the First Voyage

What it is

Written by Christopher Columbus aboard the ship Niña as he returned from his first Atlantic crossing, this letter announced the completion of his voyage. Dated 15 February 1493, with a postscript added after he reached Lisbon, Columbus sent copies to the Spanish court, including to his backer Luis de Santángel. Printed versions spread quickly across Europe within weeks.

Why it matters

This letter was the first public announcement of Columbus's voyage and helped spark European interest in the Americas. It shows how Columbus presented his discoveries to his sponsors, exaggerating the wealth of the islands, describing the Indigenous people he called "Indians" as docile and convertible to Christianity, and urging further funding—revealing both his persuasive aims and his era's attitudes toward conquest and conversion.

Look closer

• Why might Columbus have exaggerated the size and riches of the islands?
• What does his description of the Indigenous people tell us about his purposes in writing?
• What does the letter leave out, such as the loss of his flagship?