Galilei, Galileo (1564-1642)

De orbium coelestium revolutionibus. Said to have been dictated by Galileo, dated 13 March 1636. 1 leaf. Circular pen-drawn diagram. In the left upper corner is an inscription, somewhat rubbed: de orbium Coelestium Revolutionibus, | telluris nostre Hypothesium assumit. Autoris propositiones. Aliter explicari non poterunt nisi eadem quoque facta | hypothesi. Hinc alienam coacti sumus genere Personam. Caeterum latus a summis Pontificalibus | contra terrestrem motum decretibus nos obsequi | profitemur. Veniet tempus quo Posteri nostri | tam aperta nos nescisse mirentur | Ego Galileo Galileis. | Die XIII Martii. MDCXXXVI. At the lower right-hand corner of the diagram: Orarium Coelestum secundum CoPernicus [sic]. It shows the positions of the Earth, Venus and the Zodiac. Produced in Arcetri.

1636

1 volume Obl. folio. 281/2 x 341/2 cm. Mounted on paper. A considerable hole in the upper right half affecting the diagram and some numbers, some pieces torn away from the lower margin.

The papers are available subject to the usual conditions of access to Archives and Manuscripts material, after the completion of a Reader's Undertaking.

Purchased 1931.

It is known that Galileo had become totally blind by 1637, and his sight had been failing for some time before that date.

Database description transcribed from S.A.J. Moorat, Catalogue of Western Manuscripts on Medicine and Science in the Wellcome Historical Medical Library (London: Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, 1962-1973).