The Columbus Letter: Its Production

	The Columbus Letter Its Production
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	Unlike the other editions of Columbus's first letter, the Basel 1494 edition was produced in conjunction with another work. This was not a case of simply binding the letter with another, but separately published, work to form a single book. The two works were given a joint title page: In laudem Serenissimi Ferdinandi Hispaniaerum regis, Bethicae et regni Granatæ, obsidio, victoria, et triûphus, Et de Insulis in mari Indico nuper inuentis In praise of the most serene Ferdinand, king of Spain, 'Baetic' and ruler of Granada, besieger, victor, triumphant, And on the recently discovered islands in the Indian sea. Given the subject matter, it is not surprising that the title page also bore a representation of the king.
	The first work, with its first two pages shown here, was a drama written by one Carolus Verardus. Although some portions were in verse, most of it was written in prose. It was nonetheless written to be performed on stage. It was indeed performed in Rome in 1492, and copies of it were printed in Rome in both 1492 and 1493 (Hain, nos.15940 and *15941). Verardus's subject matter was the Spanish conquest in 1492 of the last moorish territories in the Iberian peninsula. Islamic rulers had conquered almost all of what is now Spain and Portugal in 711-12. The three Christian monarchies of Portugal, Castile, and Aragon had begun to reconquer the peninsula in the ninth century. The kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were united in 1479 by the marriage of Ferdinand (Castile) and Isabella (Aragon); in 1482, the new kingdom of Spain launched the conquest of the Islamic state of Granada, succeeding in 1492. As a great victory over the heathen by "their catholic majesties," it was natural for the conquest of Granada to be celebrated in Rome, home of the Catholic Church.
To the most invincible King of Spain. No region now can add to Spain's great deeds: to such men all the world is yet too small. An Orient land, found far beyond the waves, will add, great Baetic, to thy renown. Then to Columbus, the true finder, give due thanks; but greater still to God on high; who makes new kingdoms for himself and thee. Both firm and pious let thy conduct be.	The conjunction of Verardus's panegyric with Columbus's first letter can perhaps be explained by reference to the epigram added at the end of the letter in its Latin translation by the bishop of Monte Peloso (at left). The crisis facing the Spanish monarchy was evident. The reconquista was over. Spanish society, which had evolved to support many substantial militant christian orders, was in danger of collapsing unless a new release could be found for the military. And, just by chance, just after Granada is conquered, Columbus returns with news of a rich and fertile land filled with heathans who are ripe for conversion and who lack the attributes of civilization. Placed together, the two work constitute a proselytizing text. They are a call to religious arms under the leadership of the Catholic King of Spain.
	Finally, the printer's imprint for the whole book was given at the end of Verardus's panegyric to Ferdinand. The imprint states that the book was produced in the year of salvation 1494, on the eleventh day of the kalends of May, which is to say April 21st. 'I. B.' are the initials of Johann Bergmann de Olpe, an early printer in Basel.
	Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education University of Southern Maine