Jefferson bought his copy from John March, Georgetown, on August 6, 1805, price $ 1.00.

In 1814 he sent the portrait of Vespuccius from his copy to Joseph Delaplaine for use in his Repository of the Lives and Portraits of Distinguished American Characters .

On April 16, 1814, Delaplaine wrote from Philadelphia to Jefferson: “I once more take the freedom of encroaching on your kindness with a request that you would allow me the privilege of having engravings made from two original pictures which I am informed by Doctor Barton are in your possession: One of them the portrait of Columbus, the other that of Americus Vespusius. Intending to render the work I have already had the honor to announce to you, it has occurred to me that the first discoverers ought to be allowed a nitche in it as well as the founders and perfecters of our republic; and my idea has been approved by several persons of distinction in this quarter. To me your approbation will be much more gratifying and to the work itself of infinite importance, since whatever its intrinsic merit may be, its success will greatly depend upon the first impression the expectation of it will make upon the people. Should the plan I mention, the proposals for which I take the liberty of enclosing (a rough proof just from the hands of the printer) have the good fortune to obtain your approbation, no more efficacious testimony of it can be given to the public than your condescending to supply the pictures. In which case you will add to the great weight of obligations I have to acknowledge, by giving your compliance to me as soon as possible, as the address to the public on the subject is to be with-held ’till I have the honor of receiving your reply.

"And may I, Sir, without being charged with presumption, intreat you to trust the pictures to my custody, in order to their being put into the hands of M ^r. Edwin whose great professional talents will do the utmost justice to those august subjects. I pledge my honor that the pictures shall be restored to you in perfect safety, as soon as the engraver is done with them . . .”

Less than a week later, on April 19, Delaplaine again wrote: “I took the liberty a few days ago of writing to you on the subject of two pictures which Doctor Barton informed me are in your possession, and at the same time requested the favour of you to forward them to me for the purpose of having engravings taken from them for my national biographical work; I mean the portraits of Columbus & Americus Vespusius . . .”

On April 30 he wrote: “Since I took the liberty of writing to you respecting the portraits of Columbus & Americus Vespusius, I am enabled to send you a perfect proposal of my Biographical work, in the first volume of which your portrait & a Biographical sketch of your life will be given.

"I shall be happy if you will authorize me to put name [sic] with others on my list as a subscriber. ”