----------------------------Original message---------------------------- This message has been cross-listed with MAPS-L and MAPHIST Dear All: The Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education, University of Southern Maine, is pleased to announce the acquisition of a major new gift: the Basel 1494 "Columbus Letter." This fine work, containing the first printed cartographic representation of the New World (even if Columbus had thought that he had reached Asia), has been given to the library by Dr. Harold L. Osher and his wife, Mrs. Peggy L. Osher. The letter will be on display at the Osher Map Library (314 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04104) next week, Tuesday, October 15th, through Friday, October 18th, 9am-5pm. It will then be on display as part of the forthcoming exhibition "The Cartographic Creation of New England" (November 6th, 1996, through April 27th, 1997). To make this remarkable document even more widely available, to all levels of student, the Osher Map Library has constructed a special WWW site, containing complete reproduction, transcription, translation, and a history of the diffusion of Columbus's letter across western Europe in 1493. The address is: http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/columbus/ ----------------------------------------------------------- Matthew Edney Associate Professor (207) 780-4767 Geography/Anthropology fax (207) 780-5310 American & New England Studies [log in to unmask] check it out: http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/oml/ http://www.usm.maine.edu/~maps/edney/ Osher Map Library & Smith Center for Cartographic Education University of Southern Maine 314 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04104-9301 -----------------------------------------------------------