Columbus at La Rabida
Additional Details:
| First Day of Issue: May 22, 1992; First Issue Location: Chicago, Illinois. For several years, Christopher Columbus endeavored to raise money for his grand quest. After being rejected by the King of Portugal and others, Columbus appeared for the first time in front of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. His "Enterprise of the Indies" was presented to the royal couple and they turned it over to a special committee. Five seemingly-endless years went by while Columbus waited for word. Dejected, Columbus sought solace at La Rabida, a monastery near Huelva, Spain. La Rabida was a healing place for the would-be explorer and in time, he was ready once again to present his proposal to the Spanish royal couple. Columbus at La Rabida was the subject of a painting known as Columbus Before the Franciscans at La Rabida by Felipe Maso de Falp (1851-1929). This painting was used for the design of the 30-cent Columbus at La Rabida stamp of the 1893 Columbian Exposition series. However, the original artwork appears to have been lost |
