Columbus' Success and the Discovery and Exchange System

Columbus' Success and the Discovery and Exchange System – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Archivo General (Simancas, Spain) / Archivo de Indias y de Protocolos (Sevilla, Spain)

Seville (Spain) — 15th century

Certificates, letters and decrees on the Spanish exploration of the New World: a compendium of important documents from various archives concerning the economic exploitation of the Americas

  1. Important documents concerning Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) and the Conquista from various Spanish archives

  2. The documents of this compendium give an exciting look into this crucial epoch of world history

  3. Certificates, letters, regulations, and capitulations inter alia concerning the exploitation of the New World

Columbus' Success and the Discovery and Exchange System

  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Columbus' Success and the Discovery and Exchange System

The compendium La explotación del exito colombino con el sistema de viajes de descubrimiento y rescate combines the important documents concerning Christopher Columbus and the Conquista from several important Spanish archives: the Archivo General in Simancas, the Archivo de Protocolos, and the Archivo de Indias, both in Seville. Assembled across 40 pages in total are certificates, letters, ordinances, contracts, and other documents, which allow us to draw some conclusions about the politics of the Spanish crown with respect to the discovery of America. Beginning with Christopher Columbus’ expedition to “India” in 1492, the discovery and exploitation of the New World became an important sector of the Spanish economy. This development began in 1519 with the so-called viajes de descubrimiento y rescate, self-financed voyages of discovery by private contractors with the license of Spain. The documents of this compendium give an exciting look into this groundbreaking epoch of world history.

Columbus' Success and the Discovery and Exchange System

The compendium La explotación del exito colombino con el sistema de viajes de descubrimiento y rescate combines the important documents concerning Christopher Columbus and the Conquista from several important Spanish archives: the Archivo General in Simancas, the Archivo de Protocolos, and the Archivo de Indias, both in Seville. Assembled across 40 pages in total are certificates, letters, ordinances, contracts, and other documents, which allow us to draw some conclusions about the politics of the Spanish crown with respect to the discovery of America. Beginning with Christopher Columbus’ expedition to “India” in 1492, the discovery and exploitation of the New World became an important sector of the Spanish economy. This development began in 1519 with the so-called viajes de descubrimiento y rescate, self-financed voyages of discovery by private contractors with the license of Spain. The documents of this compendium give an exciting look into this groundbreaking epoch of world history.

A Great Explorer at the Beginning of an Epoch

Christopher Columbus ca. 1451–1506, the famous Genoese seafarer, stood at the beginning of a momentous development. He undertook his first voyage of discovery over the Atlantic at the behest of the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella in 1492. His aim was to find a western sea route to India. In doing so, Columbus came upon a previously unknown continent, modern day America. Altogether, Christopher Columbus undertook four great voyages of discovery to America between the years 1492 and 1504 and settled the regions there in the name of the Spanish crown.

The Heirs of Columbus

This grandiose event signaled the beginning of the creation of the colonial Spanish Empire in modern South and Central America. After the discoveries of Columbus, there followed in the years 1499–1519 the so-called viajes de descubrimiento y rescate. These expeditions, also described as viajes menores or viajes andaluces, admittedly took place with the license of the Spanish crown. However, they were no royal commissions like Columbus, but rather self-financed expeditions, that is to say, private undertakings. The controversial monopoly of Christopher Columbus was broken in this way. Amerigo Vespucci took part in one of these post-Columbus expeditions. This Italian seafarer was one of the first to recognize that the regions discovered by Columbus were not part of Asia, but a completely new part of the world instead. In honor of him, this continent has been called America ever since.

Glimpse into a Historical Process

This ongoing process of discovery and land seizure, carried out by professional seafarers, was the beginning of the so-called Conquista, the Spanish conquest and settlement of the discovered regions. The compendium assembles historical documents, which give a glimpse into the processes and developments of this epoch. The certificates, letters, regulations, capitulations, and developments allow us to draw conclusions about the politics of the Spanish crown with respect to the exploitation of the New World on both sides of the Atlantic!

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Explotación del éxito colombino
Kolumbus' Entdeckung und Tauschsystem
Origin
Spain
Date
15th century
Language
Script
Secretary
Content
Important documents concerning Christopher Columbus and the "Conquista" of the New World

Available facsimile editions:
Columbus' Success and the Discovery and Exchange System – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Archivo General (Simancas, Spain) / Archivo de Indias y de Protocolos (Sevilla, Spain)
Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Madrid, 1992
Limited Edition: 980 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Explotación del éxito colombino

Publisher: Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Madrid, 1992
Limited Edition: 980 copies
Binding: Presented with the commentary in a special case
Commentary: 1 volume (308 pages) by Demetrio Ramos
Language: Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€
(1,000€ - 3,000€)
You might also be interested in:
Book of the First Voyage of Discovery – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Vitr/6/7 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
Book of the First Voyage of Discovery
Spain – Ca. 1552

From the mood on board to descriptions of the newly discovered islands: a detailed and in many ways revealing eyewitness account of Christopher Columbus' first sea voyage

Experience More
Christopher Columbus Copy Book – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain)
Christopher Columbus Copy Book
1493–1503

First rediscovered in 1985 in an antiquarian bookshop: nine personal letters from Christopher Columbus about his experiences, discoveries and observations to his patrons King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

Experience More
Historia rerum ubique gestarum – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – 10.3.1. – Biblioteca Capitular y Colombina (Seville, Spain)
Historia rerum ubique gestarum
Venice (Italy) – 1477

The history and geography of Asia from the pen of a later Pope: Christopher Columbus' personal copy of the cosmographic masterpiece by Eneas Silvio Piccolomini, better known as Pius II

Experience More
Santa Fe Capitulations – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Archivo General de Indias (Seville, Spain) / Archivo General de Simancas (Simancas, Spain) / Archivo de la Corona de Aragón (Barcelona, Spain)
Santa Fe Capitulations
15th century

A precious insight into the politics behind his memorable expeditions: the privileges of Christopher Columbus, granted by the Catholic Monarchs Isabella I and Ferdinand II.

Experience More
Christopher Columbus' documents in the Casa de Alba archive – Testimonio Compañía Editorial – Fundación Casa de Alba (Madrid, Spain)
Christopher Columbus' documents in the Casa de Alba archive
1493–1504

From the Casa de Alba, the largest collection of Columbus manuscripts in the world: a compilation of 21 reports, private letters, and diaries from Christopher Columbus's own hand

Experience More
The Letter of Christopher Columbus Announcing the Discovery of the New World – Circulo Cientifico – Original manuscript lost
The Letter of Christopher Columbus Announcing the Discovery of the New World
Portugal – February 15, 1493

A historical letter of great political astuteness: Christopher Columbus' letter dated February 15, 1493 to the most relevant people of his time for the future of the recently discovered New World

Experience More
Blog articles worth reading
Filter selection
Publisher