Missouri Library Acquires 400-Year Old Book Written By Galileo

A Missouri library has acquired a rare 414-year old book written by Italian scientist and astronomer Galileo Galilei. 

“Sidereus Nuncius is one of the most famous books in the history of science,” according to a release from the Linda Hall Library in Kansas City, Missouri. 

According to Jason Dean, who oversees rare books at the library, publishers printed three versions of Sidereus Nuncius 400 years ago - one in Venice on fine paper, one in Frankfurt and their latest acquisition - an ordinary paper copy of the Venice edition. 

Linda Hall is now the only library in the world with all three original versions. 

“While this is the same word on the page here, each of them tell us something different about Galileo’s intentions and tell us something different about the world Galileo lived in,” Dean told KHSB in Kansas City.

In Sidereus nuncius, Galileo argues that the moon was a sphere, disputing the traditional view that the moon was a flat disk in the sky.  He also discusses the telescope - how he first learned of the tool and how he sought to improve its magnifying power. 

The ordinary paper copy of the Venice edition has even been hand-corrected by Galileo himself. 

“To touch something Galileo himself touched, yeah, it’s pretty good,” Dean told KSHB. 

“I think [it’s] really thrilling and kind of gives. . .an indication of why people love old and rare books so much because it’s almost like a time machine. It puts you in contact with a past generation.”

Even better, despite it being more than 400 years old, Dean said Galileo made this book “very accessible” and “fun” to read.  

Dean looks forward to sharing the library's newest version of Sidereus nuncius with the public during a rare books exhibit beginning July 25 at Linda Hall Library.