Libra astronomica

Lot 100
05.02.2026 10:00UTC +00:00
Classic
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
ID 1540348
Lot 100 | Libra astronomica
Estimate value
$ 7 000 – 9 000
[GRASSI, Orazio (1583–1654)] – SARSI, Lothario. Libra astronomica ac philosophica qua Galilaei Galilaei opiniones de cometis [...] examinantur. Perugia: Marco Naccarini, 1619.

Very rare first edition of Grassi’s attack on Galileo’s theory of comets, which had been expressed under his disciple Mario Guiducci's name in his Discorso of 1619. The work provoked the “controversy of the comets” and a wealth of published attacks between the scientists, culminating in Galileo's ll Saggiatore. Carli-Favaro 17 (81); Cinti 139 (64); Riccardi I, 628 (“Raro”).

Quarto (192 × 137mm). Engraved plate of one of the 1618 comets on title-page, woodcuts throughout (spotting, toned). Modern vellum (bowed).
Libra astronomica ac philosophica qua Galilaei Galilaei opiniones de cometis a Mario Guiducio in Florentina Academia expositae atqua in lucem nuper editae examinantur a Lothario Sarsio Sigensano.
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