Photo: Special
MADRID (AP) – The Spanish courts banned auction of a handwritten letter from Christopher Columbus to his son Diego in 1498, Christie’s valued at 21 million euros (22.5 million dollars).
In a ruling made public on Tuesday, a court Madrid said the letter has “obvious importance, economic and historical and cultural order” as to authorize the sale.
The document file is part of the House of Alba, part of a collection Admiral of 21 cards, 12 are addressed to his son. The letter is personal and does not contain information on his first trip to America.
The House of Alba, the most prominent of the Spanish aristocratic family requested permission to sell it. Proceeds from the auction house in London would seek to preserve their private art collection.
The Alba published a facsimile of “high quality” for both the text and appearance were available for study.
But the government, through Heritage, opposed the operation and said the letter as “cultural interest”. The case ended up in court, which has now ruled in favor of the government.
The House of Alba and auctioned in 2013 a series of period furniture to help preserve their heritage. The bidding reached 6 million euros (6.4 million dollars).
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