FBI Recovers Centuries-Old Relic

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August 14, 2025

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A 500-year-old Hernan Cortes manuscript was returned to Mexico decades after being stolen.

The news: FBI agents recently recovered a document written by the controversial Spanish conquistador in 1527. It has since been authenticated and given to the Mexican government. The bureau also recovered a Cortes letter in 2023 and returned it to Mexico.
The backstory: Caretakers at Mexico's national archives discovered the manuscript was missing in 1993. Officials believe 15 pages were taken from a larger collection sometime between 1985 and the discovery. Mexico asked for the FBI's help with the manuscript last year.
Big picture: The FBI Art Crime Team, the NYPD and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York worked the case, but it is unclear where the document was found. Officials said the manuscript has changed hands many times since being stolen, so no one will be charged. All current and former stakeholders forfeited rights before the document was seized.

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