Front:
UNITED STVVES
1992
OE
K FLAG S OE SUMBUSO
CHICAGO
22
1992
60601
Back:
FLAG SHIP OF COLUMBUS
First Day of Issue: May 22, 1992
First Issue Location: Chicago, Illinois
Measuring 117 feet with castles fore and aft, the
Marigalante was an impressive sight among the ships of
the era. She was renamed the Santa María, became the
flagship of Columbus and was personally captained by
him. On September 6, 1492, the Santa María set sail
from the Canary Islands en route to the Indies — a
geographical term of the time for Japan, Burma, India,
Indonesia and China — along with the Niña and the
Pinta. She was classed as a nao, a Spanish term for ship,
and estimated at 90 tons. Sadly, only months after Colum-
bus' discovery, the helmsman ran her aground on a reef
Flag Ship of Columbus stamp of 1893 is shrouded in
mystery. Supposedly, it was designed by an unknown
Spanish engraver, but it is not known if the die was
inspired by a painting or if the engraver simply crafted his
own version of the Santa María. An extensive search for
the original piece of art has led to a dead end and the
painting — if there is one — is presumed lost forever.
No. 92-30
First Day of Issue Postcard Collection
©1992 Fleetwood®, Cheyenne, WY 82008-0001
Original painting Santa María Flagship of Columbus by Gherman A. Komlev after
engraving by unknown Spanish artist.
Teetwood
