Amateur sleuths traced stolen Cortés papers to U.S. auctions. Mexico wants them back


  • World
  • Thursday, 13 May 2021

FILE PHOTO: A Hernan Cortes letter, signed "El Marques", to his mines administrator Pedro de Castilleja is seen in Mexico City, Mexico July 20, 2010. Archivo General de la Nacion AGN/Courtesy of Maria del Carmen Martinez/Handout via REUTERS

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - In September, a New York auction house had a rare treasure up for sale: a five-centuries-old letter revealing political intrigue involving Hernán Cortés, the famed leader of the Spanish force that colonized what is modern-day Mexico.

Cortés papers seldom come to market. The 1521 document, offered by Swann Galleries, was expected to fetch $20,000 to $30,000. That is, until a plucky group of academics in Mexico and Spain helped thwart the sale.

Subscribe now and receive FREE sooka plan for 1 month.
T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In World

Spanish gov't sends further 5,000 troops to floods-hit areas
Austrian president to have spinal surgery, chancellor to stand in
US restaurant chain TGI Fridays files for bankruptcy
India criticises Canada for linking minister to Sikh plots
Combative Badenoch to steer UK Conservatives towards populist right
Kemi Badenoch wins race to become new leader of Britain's Conservatives
Greek police arrest man over Athens apartment blast
Spain mounts biggest peacetime disaster recovery operation as death toll reaches 211
Trump, Harris head to North Carolina in US election campaign's final weekend
North Korea, Russia reaffirm commitment to partnership accord

Others Also Read