Andrés Bernáldez Manuscript, approximately 1500
Scope and Contents
Relating the history of Spain, particularly during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, this volume was written by a Spanish curate by the name of Andrés Bernáldes. It includes the first transcriptions of Columbus' own accounts of his voyages of discovery in the New World.
Interesting item: In one passage about Columbus, Bernaldes, writes: "he was my guest and left me some of his writings in the presence of Don Juan da Fonseca, from which I copied and abridged them with others which the honorable Dr. Alvarez Chanca and other noble gentlemen wrote, who were with him on the voyages already related, who wrote what they say; from which I was informed and wrote this about the Indies as being a marvelous and heroic thing."
Dates
- Creation: approximately 1500
Creator
- Bernáldez, Andrés, approximately 1450-approximately 1513 (Author, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Access is by appointment only.
Extent
1 item
Language of Materials
Spanish; Castilian
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This was one of many important documents purchased from S. W. Rosenbach and Sons by Thomas Gilcrease in 1930.
Existence and Location of Copies
This is one of eleven known copies in Spain, Mexico, and the United States. These copies were located by Dr. C. L. Strout, Professor of Languages at the University of Tulsa. The Gilcrease Library has microfilm copies of all of the copies of the Codex including one owned by Harvard University.
It was published in 1992 as Le scoperte di Cristoforo Colombo nelle testimonianze di Diego Alvarez Chanca e di Andres Bernaldez / a cura di Anna Unali. Roma: Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, [1992?].
Physical Description
In excellent condition. The chapters concerning Columbus have been transcribed and were translated by Dr. Strout.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Helmerich Center for American Research at Gilcrease Museum Repository
1400 N. Gilcrease Museum Rd.
Tulsa Ok 74127
918-631-6441