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.
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.
Condition:
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.