Johannes Kepler’s “New Astronomy” and More in Christie’s Antique Book Auction

Before Johannes Kepler studied the path of Mars, many believed that planetary orbits were circular. Kepler’s findings, which resulted in his first two laws of planetary motion, showed that the orbits of the planets are, instead, elliptical. He also discovered that the planets move more rapidly as they came closer to the sun. Johannes Kepler first presented these observations in the book Astronomia nova, or New Astronomy, a copy of which is up for bid in Christie’s Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts auction. Kepler’s understanding of how the planets travel through the solar system was essential to the observations and discoveries of astronomers who followed him. Although the print run of Astronomia nova was not recorded, Kepler did not intend the few copies for a public audience.

Other scientific works in the auction include an original copy of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin, as well as a group of early maps and atlases. There are also literary rarities such as the second folio of Shakespeare’s plays, and religious items such as a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible. Bidders can also consider a book of cat drawings by French avant-garde artist Léonard Tsuguharu Foujita. View any of these lots and register to bid at Christie’s.