Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15


his transcript of Columbus Journal of his first
VOYAGE editions of Peter Martyr. Oviedo,
Gryaeus. Herrera. Benzoni, Encisco Philoponus,
Giustiniana, Waldseemuller, Jovius, De Bry,
Vcspucius-and many more.
One may visit the rare book room, which Is
under the very efficient supervision of Mr.. v
Vata Parma. the curator, and there, if he is
locking for first hand information on his his
tory, browse through Herrera's famous
Decades filled with entertaining 3-inch- square
wood cuts of early American explorations. And
the critics say that Herrera stands first among
the earlier writer's.
There are works by that colorful writer
Fernandez de Oviedo a native of Madrid
whose years of Sojourn in America in numer-
Gus high positions fitted him for describing
events here so wildly. In fact he knew Chris
topher Columbus personally. His work is a
source from which most writer's have drawn
their accounts of the early happenings In
America. Indeed he became famous as the
author Of the greatest contemporary history
Of the New World, and well he might have known
the trend of affairs here, for he spent "a OF
the 70 years of his life in America, crossing the
Atlantic eight times. His Historic De Las
midas (l535-155D, the greatest Spanish his
terry of the Indies, containing wood cuts of
American interest, is in the Library here.
And then there is Fernandez De Enciso's
'Sunma De Geographic" 0519), in which his
description of America is chiefly from his own
observation 1t was he who owned the vessel
and big-heartedly planned the expedition that
made Balboa famous. great photographer
and explorer, his work Is considered of great
value for the early geographical history OF
America.
All but here is the volume that draws every
body's gaze like q magnet-Honorius Philopo
nus Nova Navigatio Now Orbis" d62D.
Strange that this most curious and interesting
pictorial volume of Americana which tells the
story of Father BueH's attempt to ChriStianize
the new land is not better known.
In order to bring Christianity to the In
dianS the King of Spain sent Father Buell. and
IL monks over here with Columbus on his sec
ond voyage In 1893. Perhaps Father Buell.
should have practiced what he preached, be-
cause he had many disagreements with Colum.
bus and upon returning to Spain spoke most
maliciously about him.
The book contains two portraitS-one Of CO.
lumbus the other Of Father Buell-and II full
page plates picturing Columbus and the monks
holding the very first mass In the New World,
Indians attacking Columbus expedition which
is attempting to land, Indian fortunes and
battle scenes.
And who would pass by vespucci's "Paesi
Novamente Retrovati" of 1507-the earliest
known collection of voyages which has been
printed? 1t consists of six books" which dis
cuss Vespucci's exploits; also those of Column
bus in book T. How the King of Spain Fitted
Out Two Ships for Columbus" and book 5,
The New World" Even today this book Is
considered an excellent source OF ln1ormatlon.
A tiny booklet containing the Grafton by the
Spanish statesman, Carvajal always commands
attention This Is of immense value because in
this document, on July 49, 1893, before Pope
Alexander VI, Carvajal made what is consid-
cred the second printed report on the discovery
of America.
Martin Waldseemuller's "Cosmographie In
troductio" U5OD has account of Americas
Vespuccis four voyages, to be sure, but it enters
the hall of Americana fame because 1t holds
the first printed suggestion that the New World
be called America"
For the first 10 years after the death Of
Columbus, contemporary references to the great
navigator were exceedingly scarce. But in 1916
we find the earliest biography Of Columbus.
And where? Strange indeed, but in polyglot
pSalter-written in Greek, Hebrew, Arabic and
Chaldean, by one Giustiniana, Bishop of Neb-
bio and published at Genoa. In annotating tho
text, the editor in marginal note to the fourth
verse of the Nineteenth Psalm inserted sketch
of Columbus life, because the hero of 1892 had
claimed that he was selected to fulfill Its
prophecy. This narrative includes several in
teresting points not found in any other writ
fngs.