The O'Gorman Columbian manuscript (also known in Spanish as Ordenanza. Manuscrito Colombino O'Gorman Condumex) is a document written and signed by Christopher Columbus in the city of Cadiz, Spain, on February 20, 1493. It was named after its discoverer, the Mexican historian Edmundo O'Gorman.[1]
History of the document
editAccording to O'Gorman, the manuscript was written and signed by Christopher Columbus during his return voyage to Spain, after his first expedition to the Americas.[1] The document, signed in Cadiz on February 20, 1493, bears the signature Xro. FERENS, used by Columbus. The signature has sparked controversy because of how the letters are arranged over four lines.[2]
In 1978, the document was authenticated. The manuscript refers to the newly discovered lands, then known as East Indies.[2]
Content of the document
editIn the document, Columbus presents his ideas on how the traffic among La Isla Española (currently Santo Domingo) and Haiti, and the other islands found by Spain should be. The manuscript also contains the appropriate norms for the gold search and its distribution among the Crown (the Monarchy of Spain), the colonists, and the admiral.[1]
This document is valuable because of its transcendence, rareness, and historical importance. This is one of the documents that registers the first encounter of the Western civilization with the New World.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Ordenanza del Manuscrito Colombino O'Gorman Condumex. Colección Adquisiciones Diversas" [Ordinance of the O'Gorman Columbian manuscript Condumex. Diverse Acquisitions Collection.] (in Spanish). Centro de Estudios de Historia de México Carso. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ a b c Tesoros de papel. Documentos del Centro de Estudios de Historia de México (CONDUMEX) [Treasures of paper. Documents from the CARSO Center for the Study of Mexican History (CONDUMEX)] (in Spanish). Mexico: Museo Soumaya/Condumex. 2006. ISBN 968-7794-33-X.