Front:
First Voyage of Christopher Columbus
Coming Ashore
29USA
STHANSTE
APR
24
1992
00820
CHRIS
VI
Back:
COMING ASHORE
First Day of Issue: April 24, 1992
First Issue Location: Christiansted, US Virgin Islands
A veritable island paradise lay revealed in the sun's
brilliant light, and the Italian mariner was eager to explore
its lush interior. Accompanied by his two captains and
other officials, Columbus marched ashore carrying the
royal banner. Claiming the island for Spain's king and
queen, Columbus renamed it San Salvador. Later journal
entries maintained that the admiral “... never beheld so
fair a thing ..." Still convinced he had reached the Indies,
Columbus called the local Arawak natives “indians," but
he spent only three days exploring San Salvador before
casting off to investigate what lay beyond the island. For
nearly three months, the small fleet glided in and out of
a dozen or more exotic ports, sailing coastlines from Cuba
to Hispañola. On Christmas Eve, the Santa María ship-
wrecked on a reef off Haiti. But ever willing to take
advantage of opportunity, Columbus ordered a fort built
on the island and left 40 of his men to search for gold until
his return. On January 16, 1493, the Niña and Pinta
triumphantly set sail for home.
No. 92-16
First Day of Issue Postcard Collection™
©1992 Fleetwood® Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001
Original painting for the First Day of Issue Postcard by Tom McNeely
Fleetwood
