Galilei, Galileo

4to (223 x 153mm.), woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials and headpieces, printed correction slip pasted to verso of F6 as usual, without final blank leaf, early nineteenth-century painted vellum, red and green paper spine labels with gilt lettering, edges speckled to a chevron pattern, modern burgundy buckram folding box, lacking frontispiece, occasional damp-staining or browning, new endpapers

Cinti 89; Norman 858; PMM 128; Riccardi i, 511

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

FIRST EDITION OF GALILEO'S STATEMENT OF AND DEFENCE OF THE COPERNICAN SYSTEM OF HELIOCENTRISM, which directly led to Galileo's trial for heresy in Rome in 1633. Urban VIII, who had Galileo arrested and had this work placed on the Index of Prohibited Books, thought he was portrayed in the dialogue as Simplicio, the (simple) character who remained steadfast to the geocentric doctrines of Aristotle and Ptolemy, and thereby made fun of; the other two characters were Salviati, who represented the new Copernican stance (Galileo himself), and Sagredo, an amateur who showed an interest in the new astronomy (named after a deceased friend of Galileo's).