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Sketch Map of Hispaniola by Columbus

Cristóbal Colón

The only surviving map attributed to Columbus's own hand, sketching the coast of Hispaniola and the fort of La Navidad.

The only surviving map drawn by Columbus himself, showing how he recorded the coast of Hispaniola and the fort of La Navidad.

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Hand-drawn sketch map of the island La Española in black ink on paper. Labels include 'la española', 'Natividad', 'Monte Cristi', 'Civao', and 'Fu. Medio' or similar, with dark ink blots marking features on the coastline.
Sketch map of Hispaniola, attributed to Cristóbal Colón.

About this source

What it is

This hand-drawn sketch map in black ink shows the island of Hispaniola, including the fort of Natividad and the region of Civao. It is attributed to Christopher Columbus himself.

Why it matters

This is the only map that survives in Columbus's own hand, making it a rare direct trace of how he recorded and understood the lands he encountered. The labelling of Civao, which reminded Columbus of Japan (then called Cipango), reveals how he tried to fit new discoveries into his existing ideas about Asia.

Look closer

  • Why might Columbus have compared this region to Japan?
  • What do the simple ink marks and labels tell you about how early explorers recorded new lands?
  • What is left out of this sketch that a modern map would include?

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