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Secondary sourceDocument

Signature of Vasco da Gama

Vasco da Gama

Da Gama's own signature as Admiral, used after he received the title Admiral of India.

This is da Gama's own signature, styled 'the Admiral,' showing the title he held after his voyages.

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A black line-drawn autograph signature on white background, with a stylized flourish above and an underline stroke beneath, running across the image from left to right.
Vasco da Gama's signature, "Ho Comde Almirante" (The Admiral Count). Traced from a 19th-century published history, not the original document.

About this source

What it is

This is a traced reproduction of Vasco da Gama's autograph signature, reading "Ho Comde Almirante" (The Admiral Count). The tracing comes from a 19th-century published history, based on an original signature of da Gama.

Why it matters

A signature like this shows how da Gama identified himself after being granted the title of Admiral of India, reflecting the honours and status he gained from his voyages. Even in a simple signature, we can see how he wanted to be recognised in official documents.

Look closer

  • Why might someone sign with a title rather than just their name?
  • What does this signature suggest about da Gama's rank and reputation later in life?
  • Why should we be careful when using a 19th-century tracing rather than the original document?

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

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Painting of an elderly bearded man with white beard and dark beret, wearing a dark robe with brown fur collar and a red cross pendant. He holds a pair of spectacles and a folded handwritten letter against a dark green background.Painting

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Portrait of Vasco da Gama

Anonymous · c. 1525

Painted portrait of a bearded man in a black cloak and black hat, holding a staff in his left hand and a sword hilt at his waist. Behind him is a shield with red and white stripes and a Portuguese coat of arms. The gold-colored inscription at top reads Dovasço da Gama Visoreie Comde.Painting

Secondary source

Vasco da Gama, Livro de Lisuarte de Abreu

Livro de Lisuarte de Abreu (compiler unknown) · c. 1565

A tall tapering white stone pillar topped with a stone cross stands on a raised circular platform by the sea. Two people sit on a low wall at left, and others sit near the right side under a partly cloudy blue sky.Artifact

Primary source

Vasco da Gama Pillar

1498 or 1499

Hand-painted portolan-style world map on parchment showing the Atlantic, Africa, and parts of Asia and the Americas, with compass roses, rhumb lines, colored flags, and Latin and Portuguese place labels.Document

Primary source

Cantino Planisphere

Anonymous Portuguese cartographer · 1502

Exterior view of the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon: a long, ornate white limestone Gothic building with a tall bell tower on the left, arched windows, and a red-tiled roof, under a clear blue sky. A palm tree and a few people stand in the foreground.Artifact

Secondary source

Jerónimos Monastery

Diogo de Boitaca · Begun 1501

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