Retro Raunch Revisit

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the publication debut of BROADSIDE magazine (1965). The last print issue was Mar/Apr/May 1974.


OCTOBER 1965 ON THE WORLD STAGE A 525yr old map which purportedly proves that Vikings discovered America touched off a battle royal on the eve of Columbus Day between scholars and Columbus partisans. Yale University scholars announced that they will place on display a yellowing vellum (animal skin writing paper) that has been declared authentic after 8yrs of scientific investigation. The map, drawn 52yrs before Christopher Columbus' discovery of America, states that Norse explorer Leif Erikson and his companion Bjarni Herjólfsson discovered Vinland which is clearly depicted in the position of the Canadian coast. Scholars have called it "the most exciting cartographic discovery of the century" and say they intend no offense to Columbus but the head of the Italian Historical Society, John La Corte, blasted Yale for releasing the map saying the university's report "had the flavor of absolute prejudice." He added, "This thing should never have been put out before Columbus Day, the day honoring the man who colonized the New World. We very much regret Yale's doing - even if it is true, and it isn't." Displayed in the Yale Library in New Haven,CT was a map of the world drawn around 1440 which shows many Europeans knew America existed atleast 4 decades before the doughty Italian navigator set out on his famous voyage to the west which was financed by King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella of Spain. "Vinland" was the name given by Erikson after his discovery in 1000AD after his daring departure from Greenland where his father, Eric the Red, presided over a flourishing colony. Two generations of academics have accepted Erikson's claim to the discovery of America as entirely bona fide, as principally set forth in the classic of Norse literature, "Saga of Eric the Red." But as this visit is centuries before Columbus' own, there has been a controversial lack of genuine documentary proof that could compel the world to give Erikson his just due. Now they have it. The map was discovered in a medieval manuscript picked up by New Haven rare book dealer & antique collectore Laurence Whitten during a tour of European book marts to which he purchased it in Switzerland in 1957. It was then donated to Yale alumnus by philanthropist Paul Mellon. Investigation revealed that the map was probably drawn by Vincent de Beauvais, a Dominican friar in France, from information gathered at a meeting of churchmen from all over Europe from 1431 (the year of Joan of Arc's heresy trial ending with her burned at the stake) to 1449 (that saw the Mongolians defeat the Chinese Ming Dynasty army, ending with the Emporer captured & deposed).