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Signature of Christopher Columbus

Christopher Columbus

Columbus's personal signature, with a cryptic monogram and the Latin phrase 'Xpo FERENS', meaning Christ-bearer.

His own signature, expressing his self-image as a 'Christ-bearer' chosen for a providential mission.

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Black ink drawing of a signature with two parts. On the left, a small monogram with dots above and the Latin text 'XPO FERENS' below. On the right, a larger looping flourish with a stylized name and horizontal strokes.
Signature of Christopher Columbus.

About this source

What it is

This is the handwritten signature used by Christopher Columbus, combining a small pyramidal monogram with the Latin words 'Xpo FERENS' (Christ-bearer) and a looping flourish beneath his name.

Why it matters

Columbus's signature is unusual and has long puzzled historians. The phrase 'Christ-bearer' reflects how Columbus saw himself as carrying out a religious mission, not just an exploring one. Signatures like this give a direct, personal trace of how a historical figure presented himself.

Look closer

  • Why might Columbus have chosen to include a religious phrase in his signature?
  • What might the mysterious dots and symbols in the monogram have meant to him?
  • How does a signature differ from other kinds of historical evidence, like a portrait or a letter?

This document is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Christopher Columbus on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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