Historia Coelestis - photo 1
Historia Coelestis - photo 2
Historia Coelestis - photo 3

Historia Coelestis

Lot 74
28.01.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 9 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 1360790
Lot 74 | Historia Coelestis
Estimate value
$ 12 000 – 18 000
BRAHE, Tycho (1546-1601). Historia Coelestis. Augsburg: Simon Utzschneider, 1666.

First edition of Brahe’s vast astronomical observations made between 1582 and 1601. In manuscript form, these observations were the base of Johannes Kepler’s publication of the Tabulae Rudolphinae (1627), but they were not printed until Albert Curtz prepared the present edition over 60 years after Brahe’s death. The fine engraved plates include a portrait of the author and numerous woodcuts show a range of astronomical instruments. The present copy is without the folding plate depicting Uraniborg.

Two volumes in one, folio (320 x 196mm). 2 woodcut title-pages, double-page engraving depicting the four emperors with terrestrial and celestial globes, engraved portrait of the author by Philip Kilian, woodcut illustrations throughout (title remargined, occasional light stains including on far edges of engravings). Contemporary blindstamped pigskin, manuscript title on spine (old paint/varnish on spine and partial cover showing some wear, strap remnants). Provenance: "Collegy Augustani Soc. Jesu. 1667" (inscription on title) – "IHS" and "MAR" (supralibros on upper and lower cover) – Owen Gingerich (bookplate).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
20 Rockefeller Plaza
10020 New York
USA
Preview
14.01.2025 – 28.01.2025
Phone +1 212 636 2000
Fax +1 212 636 4930
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase
Shipping Postal service
Courier service
pickup by yourself
Payment methods Wire Transfer
Business hoursBusiness hours
Mo 09:30 – 17:00   
Tu 09:30 – 17:00   
We 09:30 – 17:00   
Th 09:30 – 17:00   
Fr 09:30 – 17:00   
Sa closed
Su closed

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.