First Written Document on India’s Colonisation Appears at Auction.

This document was printed in 1507 in Cologne, and gives account of military action by Francisco de Almeida, the first viceroy of Portuguese Inda.

A 1507 document describing Portuguese conquests to be auctioned at Christie’s.

A document printed in 1507, comprising four leaves, is coming up for auction at Christie’s online (January 22 – February 5, 2026). What makes it interesting is that it is the first printed account of European colonization of India, among other modern countries. It is part of the auction, titled ‘Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts Including Americana.’ The title of the lot is, ‘Gesta proxime per Portugalenses I India, Ethiopia, et aliis orientalibus terris,’ and it was published in Cologne (in present-day Germany) in February 1507. The first edition was published in the late 1506 in Rome.

The document records Portuguese conquests in East Africa and India, and the first European arrival in Sri Lanka. According to Christie’s website, ‘This work described events mere months after their occurrence. It gives a summary of Portugal’s key military actions in 1505 undertaken by Francisco de Almeida (1450-1510), the first viceroy of Portuguese India. His voyage was distinguished from those of Vasco da Gama or Cabral by his mission as viceroy, a would-be ruler rather than trading partner. The account covers the sacking of Mombasa, and acts of both construction and destruction all down the west coast of India, most notably in Anjediva, Honnavar, Kannur, and Kochi. Lourenço de Almeida, son of Francisco de Almeida, was the first Portuguese to reach Sri Lanka, accidentally landing while en route to the Maldives. In describing his visit, this work is believed to contain the earliest printed reference to that island, identified by its classical name “Taprobana”.’

The lot is estimated to fetch between USD 30,000 – USD 50,000 (approx. Rs 27.48 lakh – Rs 45.81 lakh).