The Library of Roger Wagner - PBA Galleries

GALILEO’S GROUND-BREAKING WORK ON SUNSPOTS, 1613
22. GAlilei, GAlileo. Istoria e dimostrazioni intorno alle macchie solari e loro accidenti comprese in tre lettere scritte
all’illvstrissimo signor Marco Velseri ... dal signor Galileo Galilei ... Si aggiungono nel fine le lettere, e disquisizioni
del finto Apelle. 2 parts in 1. 164; 55, [1] pp. A6, B-S4, T6, V4, a6, C-G4. First part with engraved
portrait of Galileo, 38 full-page copper-engravings of sunspots, 5 copper-engraved plates of satellites
of Jupiter, extra set of the 5 Jovian satellite plates, 1 copper-engraving & 8 woodcut & typographic
diagrams in text; second part with 1 folding copper-engraved plate, 1 full-page copper engraving, 3
text engravings, 9 typographic & woodcut diagrams & illustrations in the text. (4to) 8¾x6¾, 19th
century ¾ morocco & mottled boards, spine lettered in gilt, joints repaired. First Edition.
Rome: Appresso Giacomo Mascardi, 1613
Galileo’s ground-breaking work on the sunspots which he discovered in the course of his
astronomical observations, as well as on the satellites of Jupiter. It is this work, in which he
boldly advocated the Copernican system, which provoked the censure of the ecclesiastical
authorities. This is the issue with the addition of the “Lettere e disquisizioni” of Christoph
Scheiner, with separate paging and half title: “De maculis solaribus tres epistolæ...” It is a quite
large copy, with full margins, with the notable presence of the additional suite of plates of
the moons of jupiter. A handwritten note, dated 1902, affixed to the front flyleaf, attests to
the scarcity of the book: “This is without the least possible doubt the rarest of all the early
Galileo publications. I have never known another copy to be offered for sale; do not remember
having seen one mentioned in a libary catalogue...” Signed with initials, possibly RCH. There is
occasional early ink marginalia, and a few instances of underlining to the text. Some light foxing
within, neat 2” repaired tear in title of Part 1, affecting no text, tiny hole in B3, a nearly fine
copy of a rare and highly important work.
(20000/30000)
Lot 22
Page 12