LOS ANGELES, CA.- A rare 1494 Basel edition of Christopher Columbus’ letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella entitled, “Christophorus Columbus, De insulis nuper in mari Indico inventis” will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on January 30, 2017.

The 56-page book features Columbus’ letter to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella regarding his discovery of the new world. The March 1493 letter was penned by Columbus on the Nina while sailing back from the “Indian” isles and was addressed to Spain’s king and queen, his patron Luis de Santangel and the Royal Treasurer Raphael Sanxis. Columbus confirmed the new lands he discovered justified the expensive and risky expedition. Leander de Cosco translated the letter into Latin for this 1494 Basel edition.

Six woodcuts designed by famed German artist Albrecht Durer are included in the hardbound book. The woodcuts represent the first depictions of the New World. They show the arrival of the Spanish at the insula hyspana, a quasi-map of the Antilles, the construction of the fort La Navidad on the island of Hispaniola and Columbus' caravel under full sail. The title woodcut of the edition depicts a portrait of Ferdinand of Aragon holding the shields of Castile and Leon and is accompanied by a coat of arms.

The book being auctioned is from Robert Menzies’ collection and contains private library labels from turn-of-the-century philanthropist Elizabeth Wharton Drexel and Pennsylvania Senator Boies Penrose.

Bidding for the book begins at $750,000.