Skip to main content

Primary sourceDocument

Signature of Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

A facsimile of Balboa's handwritten signature, taken from his official correspondence, one of the few physical traces of his own hand.

This is Balboa's own autograph signature, a direct physical trace of his hand from his official correspondence.

Ask Vasco Nunez de Balboa about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Black ink line drawing of a handwritten signature on white background. Two large looping flourishes with long tails are joined by a smaller cursive script inscription in the center.
Facsimile of the signature of Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

About this source

What it is

This is a facsimile of the autograph signature of Vasco Núñez de Balboa, copied from his official correspondence. It shows two large looping flourishes joined by a smaller cursive inscription.

Why it matters

Signatures like this are rare physical traces of a historical figure's own hand. Balboa used this signature as the founder of Santa María la Antigua del Darién and as Adelantado of the South Sea, titles that show his role as both settler and explorer in early Spanish America.

Look closer

  • What does the style of the flourishes suggest about how important a signature was to officials of this period?
  • Why might historians treat an authentic signature as valuable evidence, even without any accompanying text?
  • What can't a signature alone tell us about a person's life or actions?

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

More Vasco Nunez de Balboa sources

Meet the AI Vasco Nunez de Balboa →
Illustrated title page of Peter Martyr's 'De orbe novo decades', printed in Alcalá 1530. Central printed text in a cream panel, framed by woodcut borders with scenes of figures, animals, and architecture.Book

Secondary source

Decades of the New World

Peter Martyr d'Anghiera · 1530 (complete edition)

Open book in a display case showing two pages of old printed text in French with decorative woodcut initials and an illustration of a cactus-like plant. A label to the right reads partially 'Chron... Amer... Gonzalo Valdés... L'histoire... Printed... Paris... Purchased... Oviedo...'Book

Secondary source

Historia general y natural de las Indias

Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo y Valdés · 1556 (French edition); original work 16th century

Title page of the Suma de Geographia in black-and-white woodcut style, with an ornate decorative border, a woodcut of an armillary sphere held by two hands, and the printed title text below.Book

Primary source

Suma de Geographia

Martín Fernández de Enciso · 1519

Black and white engraving of armored European men with pikes and helmets standing in a row at left and center, while dogs attack several nude figures lying on the ground in the foreground. Some figures appear wounded or dead.Painting

Secondary source

Balboamurder

Theodor de Bry · 1594

Title page of the 1552 Seville edition of Brevísima relación de la destrucción de las Indias, in black and red letterpress with a woodcut border, a central coat of arms with two eagles, and columns on each side. Text reads Brevísima relación, by Bartolomé de las Casas, Año 1552.Book

Secondary source

A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies

Bartolomé de las Casas · 1552

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Vasco Nunez de Balboa now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions