<div class="description">
<dl><dd>This is the first edition of Copernicus' De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the revolutions of heavenly spheres), a seminal work that advanced a heliocentric theory of the universe</dd>
<dd>(Continued from title page): Habes in hoc opere iam recens nato, &amp; aedito, studiose lector, motus stellarum, tam fixarum, quam erraticarum, cum ex ueteribus, tum etiam ex recentibus obseruationibus restitutos: &amp; nouis insuper ac admirabilibus hypothesibus ornatos. Habes etiam tabulas expeditissimas, ex quibus eosdem ad quoduis tempus quam facilli me calculare poteris. Igitur eme, lege, fruere</dd>
<dd>Contains a duplicate title with list of errata on the verso. This leaf is sometimes bound-in before the main title page in other copies</dd>
<dd>Signatures: pi⁶ chi1 a-z⁴ A-2C⁴.</dd></dl><dl><dd>The first gathering, presumably of six, is unlabeled, with leaves two through four signed in lower-case Roman numerals</dd>
<dd>Illustrated with 147 woodcut diagrams</dd>
<dd>Includes index</dd>
<dd>Woodcut initials</dd>
<dd>Adams, C2602</dd></dl><dl><dd>BM STC German, 1455-1600, p. 221</dd></dl><dl><dd>Sabin, 16662</dd></dl><dl><dd>Stillwell, M.B. Science, 1450-1550, astronomy, no. 47</dd></dl><dl><dd>Zinner, E. Astronomischen Literatur in Deutschland, 1819</dd></dl><dl><dd>Boston Public Library (Rare Books Department) copy E.5020A.53 FOLIO bound in modern maroon morocco double-panelled in blind. BPL embossed stamp and perforation stamp on title page, with ink stamp of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata in Florence (initials "D.S.A." in front of three lilies on a single stem). Inscibed in the lower margin of the title page: "Ex bibliotheca m. Michaelis" (possibly Michele Poccianti of Florence (1535-1576)). In this copy, the additional title leaf, with errata on verso, is bound in before the first page of book I (leaf a1).</dd></dl><br>Subjects: Astronomy</div>
<div class="fn value">
<dl><dd>Copernicus, Nicolaus, 1473-1543</dd>
<dd>Petrejus, Johannes, 1497-1550, printer</dd>
<dd>Poccianti, Michele, 1535-1576, former owner</dd>
<dd>SS. Annunziata (Church : Florence, Italy), former owner</dd></dl></div>
Internet Archive identifier