The First Spanish Letter of Christopher Columbus

What it is

This is a letter written by Michael Kerney to the editor of The Times in 1892, responding to a debate about which of three early printed editions of Columbus's first Spanish letter is the genuine first edition.

Why it matters

The letter is about the famous letter Columbus wrote describing his first voyage, one of the earliest printed accounts of his discoveries. Scholars in the 1890s argued over small printing details, like abbreviations, to decide which surviving copy came first. This shows how historians use careful textual clues to understand sources connected to Columbus.

Look closer

• Why would scholars care so much about tiny printing differences between copies?
• What does this debate tell us about how fragile and uncertain old printed texts can be?
• How is this letter different from Columbus's original letter itself?