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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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Columbus, Christopher (1451-1506) Letter of Christopher Columbus to Rafael Sanchez, written on board the caravel while returning from his first voyage.

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08615 Author/Creator: Columbus, Christopher (1451-1506) Place Written: Chicago, Illinois Type: Pamphlet Date: 1893 Pagination: 34 p.

Summary of Content: Title continues: "Published at Barcelona, May, 1493." Facsimile of the first publication concerning America. First 20 pages, Latin text in facsimile (black letter, with illustrations); followed by English translation. Published in Chicago by the W. H. Lowdermilk Company.

People: Columbus, Christopher, ca. 1451-1506

Historical Era: The Americas to 1620

Subjects: Frontiers and ExplorationMaritimeGlobal History and CivicsForeign Affairs

Sub Era: Exploration

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