Advertisement

Stolen Christopher Columbus Letter Returned To Italy

02:53
Download Audio
Resume
1492, Christopher Columbus (1446 - 1506) lands on Watling Island and meets the natives, while three of his shipmates erect a cross. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
1492, Christopher Columbus (1446 - 1506) lands on Watling Island and meets the natives, while three of his shipmates erect a cross. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

A rare original copy of a letter written by Christopher Columbus is being returned from the New World to the Old. The letter, which details his 1492 voyage to the Americas, was stolen from the Riccardiana Library in Florence, Italy and replaced with a forgery. A tip made in 2012 led U.S. investigators to the real copy, which was being held at the Library of Congress. With historian Bill Keegan, Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd details the return of the letter and its significance as one of the earliest surviving documents written about America.

Guest

This segment aired on May 18, 2016.

Advertisement

More from Here & Now

Listen Live
Close