Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters

[The stolen letters] were found in the most surprising places. The letter stolen from the Riccardiana Library in Florence turned up in, get this, the U.S. Library of Congress. . .

Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters

#6

Post by dang » Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 8:59 PM UTC

Sniffnoy wrote: post #3

Non-AMP link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/christopher-columbus-letters-st...

Thanks—changed from https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/christopher-columbus-letter.... The software missed that one for some reason.

Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters

#7

Post by gjsman-1000 » Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 9:20 PM UTC

Sounds almost like a plot from National Treasure (2004). Except it's Columbus letters instead of the Constitution.

How rich was Columbus?

Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters

#8

Post by bryanrasmussen » Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 9:30 PM UTC

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #7

Sounds almost like a plot from National Treasure (2004). Except it's Columbus letters instead of the Constitution. How rich was Columbus?

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/christopher-colu...

"Although Columbus enjoyed a substantial revenue from Hispaniola gold during the last years of his life, he repeatedly attempted (unsuccessfully) to gain an audience with King Ferdinand, whom he felt owed him further redress."

So I'm thinking - well off, but not wealthy.

Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters

#9

Post by mysterypie » Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 9:35 PM UTC

> One of the most valuable art collections in Europe isn't housed in a museum visited by millions of tourists, but in this warehouse in the back of his police station. It's basically an evidence locker for stolen artifacts. This is a Caravaggio. What does a Caravaggio go for these days? It is millions of dollars. It is a paint stolen at the end of 1990 and was from a private house.

What's not explained is why are police keeping all this artwork? If you saw the 60 Minutes piece on this you'd see that it's an enormous evidence room full of artworks they are hoarding. They know where the multi-million dollar Caravaggio was stolen from in 1990. Why hasn't at least this particular piece been returned to its owner?

I also wonder why such an obvious question isn't answered in the story. I'm afraid that the answer might be that it doesn't fit the agenda of the story about sophisticated art thieves and super rich collectors. The reason might be that the Italian police declare that your art is a national treasure and they simply keep it. Or they impose an impossible burden of proof that you acquired it legally (similar to U.S. asset forfeiture laws) and require you to show a chain of receipts back to Caravaggio in 1602.

Re: Someone is stealing Christopher Columbus letters

#10

Post by joosters » Sat, Oct 26, 2019, 9:41 PM UTC

mysterypie wrote: post #9

> One of the most valuable art collections in Europe isn't housed in a museum visited by millions of tourists, but in this warehouse in the back of his police station. It's basically an evidence locker for stolen artifacts. This is a Caravaggio. What does a Caravaggio go for these days? It is millions of dollars. It is a paint stolen at the end of 1990 and was from a private house. What's not explained is why are pol…

Why do you think there’s an agenda? The article talks about returning the stolen letters to their owners, so it’s not like the police are unwilling to repatriate stolen goods. Perhaps these artworks in their store have unknown owners or there are conflicting claims? And what do you do with antiquities like an ancient amphora? Who knows where it came from originally, so who do you return it to?