Colección de Documentos Inéditos Relativos al Descubrimiento, Conquista y Organización de las Antiguas Posesiones Españolas de Ultramar. Tomo 1, Isla de Cuba

This volume gathers a remarkable set of primary sources that illuminate the early Spanish presence on the island of Cuba, from the first settlement under Diego Velázquez through the first years of the 1520s. Compiled in the mid‑19th century under official sanction, the editor preserved the original spelling and punctuation while correcting obvious printing errors, and added a comprehensive notes section to guide modern readers. The collection is organized with searchable indexes of documents, people, and places, making navigation through the material straightforward.

Among the one‑hundred‑eight items are the residencia trials of Velázquez and the jurist Juan Altamirano, a detailed report by the scholar Alonso de Parada on the fledgling towns, and records of gold production and minting. These documents range from formal royal correspondence to private letters, offering a vivid cross‑section of administrative, legal, and economic life in early colonial Cuba. Their inclusion provides scholars and curious listeners with direct insight into the challenges and ambitions of Spain’s first overseas settlement.

The edition also benefits from modern editorial work: footnotes have been renumbered and gathered in a dedicated bibliography chapter, and the text has been updated to contemporary orthography without altering the original voice. This careful preparation ensures that the rich historical tapestry of Cuba’s first decades is both authentic and accessible to today’s audience.