Copernicus’ manuscripts

Nicolaus Copernicus
DE REVOLUTIONIBUS – AUTOGRAPH
1520-1541, Frombork
The Jagiellonian Library, MS BJ 10 000
Paper 28 x 19 cm, 213 pages,
Handwritten by Nicolaus Copernicus, humanistic cursive. Small marginal and space notes by George Joachim Retyk on four pages. Bound in the beginning of XVII c. in boards made of waste paper and parchment of XVI c.

Private letters written by Copernicus with his signature

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO MAURICE FERBER, BISHOP OF VARMIA
Frombork, 29 February 1524
Uppsala, Universitetsbiblioteket, H. 157
27,5 x 21 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO JOHANNES DANTISCUS, BISHOP OF CHEŁMNO
Frombork, 8 June 1536
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 2713, pp. 1-2
27,5 x 18,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO JOHANNES DANTISCUS, BISHOP OF CHEŁMNO
Frombork, 9 August 1537
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 2713, pp. 7-8
28 x 19,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO JOHANNES DANTISCUS, BISHOP OF VARMIA
Frombork, 25 April 1538
Uppsala, Universitetsbiblioteket, H. 154, K. 163-163v.
29 x 20 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO BISHOP JOHANNES DANTISCUS.
Frombork, 2 December 1538
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1596, pp. 519-520
28 x 20 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO BISHOP JOHANNES DANTISCUS.
Frombork, 3 March 1539
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 307, pp. 123-124
27 x 19 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO BISHOP JOHANNES DANTISCUS
Frombork, 11 March 1539.
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1596, pp. 557-558
28,5 x 19,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO DUKE ALBERT OF PRUSSIA.
Frombork, 15 VI 1541
Berlin, Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussisczer Kulturbesitz XX. HA StA Königsberg, HBA, C 1a, Kasten 497
30 x 21 cm
Letter in German language

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO DUKE ALBERT OF PRUSSIA.
Frombork, 21 VI 1541
Berlin, Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussisczer Kulturbesitz XX. HA StA Königsberg, HBA, C 1a, Kasten 497
30 x 21 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO BISHOP JOHANNES DANTISCUS.
Frombork 27 June 1541
Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Sammlung Darmstädter, J 1530(1)
29 x 19,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO THE VARMIA CHAPTER .
Pieniężno (Melsac), 22 October 1518
Photocopy of recto, original lost around 1930 .
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives , Doc. L 97

Nicolaus Copernicus
LETTER TO BISHOP MAURICE FERBER,
Frombork, 27 July 1531
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 284, p. 169
Copy of XVIII c. 34,5 x 20 cm

The Varmian Chapter letters writtten by Copernicus

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO FABIAN LUZJANSKI, BISHOP OF VARMIA,
Olsztyn , 7 March 1520
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1594, pp. 585-586
23 x 19 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO FABIAN LUZJANSKI, BISHOP OF VARMIA.
Olsztyn , 29 April 1520
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1594, pp. 593-594
28 x21 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO BISHOP FABIAN LUZJANSKI.
Olsztyn, 14 June 1520
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1594, pp. 605 – 606
21 x 20,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO BISHOP FABIAN LUZJANSKI.
Olsztyn, 11 October1520
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1594, pp. 639 – 640
29 x 21 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO THE KING SIGISMUND I.
Olsztyn, 16 November 1520
Berlin, Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, XX.HA StA Königsberg, OBA 24345.
28,5 x 21 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
HENRYK PERYK, COMMANDER IN OLSZTYN TO BISHOP FABIAN LUZJANSKI.
Olsztyn, 22 December 1520
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1594 , pp. 725 – 726
14 x 20 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO MAURICE FERBER, BISHOP OF VARMIA.
Frombork, 23 March 1524
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, V.D.122, k. 7-7v
28 x 18,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO BISHOP PAUL PŁOTOWSKI, PROVOST OF VARMIA, CONCEPT.
Frombork, after 8 November 1523
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, t. D. 122, d.1 -1v.
28 x 19 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO BISHOP MAURICE FERBER.
Frombork, 14 May 1524
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, V.D.122, k. 8-8v
27,5 x 18,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO BISHOP MAURICE FERBER
Frombork, 6 June 1524
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, V. D. 66, k. 80-80v
28 x 20,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
THE VARMIA CHAPTER TO BISHOP JOHANNES DANTISCUS
Frombork, 17 III 1539
Cracow, Czartoryski Library, manusc. 1595, pp. 997 – 998
28,5 x 20 cm

Administrative documents

Nicolaus Copernicus
DOCUMENT OF DESIGNATION PROXIES FOR SCHOLASTRY IN THE HOLY CROSS CHURCH IN WROCŁAW (BRESLAU, IN GERMAN).
Padua, 10 January 1503
Padova, Archivio di Stato, Archivio Notarile, Libro I instr. notaio Stefano Venturato, k. 175
29 x 22 cm

Concept of Nicolaus Copernicus with the notary remarks

Nicolaus Copernicus
LEASES IN THE MELSAC DISTRICT 1517-1519
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, Doc. Kap. II, 55, k. 42-42v
32 x 10,5 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus’ autograph

Tiedemann Giese
NICOLAUS COPERNICUS’ LEASES IN THE OLSZTYN DISTRICT WRITTEN BY TIEDEMANN GIESE IN 1521.
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, Doc. Kap. L 92, s.1
32 x 11 cm

Nicolaus Copernicus
INVENTORY OF DOCUMENTS AND WRITINGS IN THE TREASURY OF THE CASTLE IN OLSZTYN, 1520 ANNO DOMINI
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, Doc. Kap. Y 9, k. 1-7
29,5 x 11 cm

BILL OF THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES NEAR THE TOLKMICKO (TOLKEMIT IN GERMAN) DISTRICT, 1531.
Berlin, Geheimes Staattsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, XX. HA StA Königsberg, Etatsministerium, 31q, 1, k. 3v-6v
35 x 11 cm

CONFIRMATION OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION
Olsztyn, 15 March 1518
Olsztyn, The Varmia Archdiocese Archives, Z. 2 (1)
16,5 x 24,5 cm
Written by a clerk

Nicolaus Copernicus
OLSZTYN BREAD TARIFF, ACCORDING TO THE PRICES OF GRAINS, WHEAT AND RYE.
Olsztyn , 1531
Uppsala, Universitetsbibliotek, H. 156
28 x 19,5 cm
Autograph of Nicolaus Copernicus

Copies of writings by Copernicus

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
EPITOME OF THE NEW ASTRONOMY (COMMENTARIOLUS) BEFORE 1514 .
Copy of Duncan Liddel of 2 November 1585, written on six pages placed between pages of the copy of „De revolutionibus” Basileae 1566
Aberdeen, University Library, King’s College, 521 Cop. 2², pages: Hr-v, 85bis r-v, 100 bis r, 148bis r-v, 160bis v, 168ter r-v.
30 x 20 cm

Copy acompanied by „De revolutionibus” Basileae 1566, owned by John Hevelius.
Stockholm, Kunglige Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Biblioteket, s. 1-16 (nosign.)
29 x 19,5 cm

Copy of Christian Sørensen Longberg (Longomontanusa), made after 1589 .
Wien, Österreichische National bibliothek, Handschriften- und Inkunabelsammlung, Cod. 10530, k. 34-43
22 x 16 cm

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
LETTER TO BERNARD WAPOWSKI „DE OCTAVA SPHAERA” OF 3 JUNE 1524
Copy of Henry Savile of 1578 .
Oxford, Bodleian Library, man. Savile 47, K. 28-32v.
22 x 16 cm (k.28), 18,5 x 14,5 cm (k.29-31), 19,5 x 14,5 cm (k.32)

Duplicate by Thomas Smith of XVII c.
Oxford, Bodleian Library, man. Smith 93, K. 173 and 180 v.
21 x 15 cm

Duplicate by Stephen Rigaud of November 1823 .
Oxford, Bodleian Library, man. Rigaud 43, K. 59 and 73.
22,5 x 14 cm.

Copy dated on 30 March 1575
Wien, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Handschriften- und Inkunabelsammlung, Cod. 973726, k. 1-9v
20 x 16 cm

Copy by Johann Praetorius of 1569 .
Schweinfurt, Stadtarchiv, man.1 Ha 14, k. 9-13v.
21 x 17 cm

Copy made after 1571.
Berlin, Staatsbibliothek, Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Cod. Lat. Fol. 83, k. 8-10.
29,5 x 20 cm

Copy made on the front (303/304) and back (305/306) protection leaf and the back fly-leaf (307) of volume including the copy of „De revolutionibus” by Copernicus, Basileae 1566, bound together with „Epitome” Regiomontana, Nürnberg1550 (302 – front fly-leaf of this volume).
Uppsala, Astronomska Observatoriet, Coll. Hjörther, H. III. 34.
30 x 21 cm

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
CONSIDERATIONS, 15 AUGUST 1517.
Contemporary copy
Warsaw, The Central Archives of Old Records, Libri legationum 5, K. 170v-173v.
29,5 x 19 cm

Contemporary copy.
Wrocław, Library of the Ossoliński Institute, Teki Górskiego, man. 199, p. 264-269.
30,5 x 20,5 cm

The first page of the copy of middle XVIII c.
Gdańsk, The State Archives, 300 R/Dt, p. 179
33,5 x 21 cm

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
GERMAN TRANSLATION OF TREATISE “CONSIDERATIONS”, 1519
Copy of 1522 with “supplement” of 1522 . (K. 546 – 546v).
Gdańsk, The State Archives, 300, 29/6, k.542v-546v.
29,5 x 22 cm

The first edition of: Caspar Schütz, Historia rerum Prussicarum, Zerbst 1592, K. 517-519
Cracow, The Czartoryski Library, 6 III Cim.
31,5 x 20,5 cm

The Latin abridgement of the German version of treatise “considerations” of the end of XVI c.
Toruń, The State Archives, Cat. II – VII 4, s. 334-336.
32,5 x 20 cm

NICOLAUS COPERNICUS
ESSAY ON THE COINAGE (1525-1526) ACCOMPANIED BY GERMAN TEXT OF MALBORK RESOLUTION OF 6 NOVEMBER 1418 AND THE NOTE „IN LIBRO ACTORUM ANTIQUO”
copy done by Felix Reich (k.1v-note In libro actorum antiquo, k. 6v – Malbork resolution).
Berlin, Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, XX. HA StA Königsberg, HBA, H, Kasten 752, k. 1-6v.
32 x 22 cm

Copy out of the Frederic Fischer collection, chancellor of the duke of Prussia, Albert ( k. 48-49 – Malbork resolution, k. 49v-50 – note „In libro actorum antiquo”).
Berlin, Geheimes Staatsarchiv Preussischer Kulturbesitz, XX. HA StA Königsberg, Ostpreussische Folianten, Nr 12868, K. 41-50 (according new numeration K. 38-47).
28,5 x 21,5 cm

Lidzbark copy done for the bishop Maurice Ferber.
(k. 91-91v – Malbork resolution)
Cracow, The Czartoryski Library, man. 259, K. 85v-91v.
30 x 20×5 cm

Copernicus Library

BOOKS OWNED OR ANNOTATED BY COPERNICUS
THE EARLY PERIOD. BOOKS WITH COPERNICU’ OWNERS’ INSCRIPTIONS.

Euclides
ELEMENTA GEOMETRIAE,
Venice, 1482
bound together with:
Haly Albohazen,
IN IUDICIIS ASTRORUM
Venice, 1485
University Library of Uppsala, Copernicana 56

Alfonsus X,
TABULAE ASTRONOMICAE,
Venice 1492
bound together with:
Regionomtanus Johannes,
TABULAE DIRECTIONUM ET PROFECTIONUM
Augsburg, 1490
and with:
A HANDWRITTEN QUIRE CONTAINING ASTRONOMICAL TABLES CALLED IN COPERNICAN LITTERATURE: THE UPPSALA NOTEBOOK.
22 x 16,5 cm
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 4

Crastonus Johannes,
DICTIONARIUM GRAECUM CUM INTERPRETATIONE LATINA
Modena, 1499-1500
31,5 x 21 cm
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 5
On the front flyleaf, Copernicus wrote his name in Greek.

Pontanus Ioannes Iovian,
OPERA
Venice 1501
bound together with:
Bessarion
IN CALUMNIATOREM PLATONIS. – CORRECTIO LIBRORUM PLATONIS „DE LEGIBUS” GEORGIO TRAPEZUNTIO INTERPRETE. – DE NATURA ET ARTE ADVERSUS EUNDEM TRAPEZUNTIUM TRACTATUS.
Venice, 1503
and with:
Aratus,
PHAENOMENA [WITH THEON'S COMMENTARY]
(Text and Commentary in Greek.)
Venice 1499
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 3
All three books in this volume are annotated; some notes are in Greek.

BOOKS OFFERED TO COPERNICUS BY GEORG JOACHIM RHETICUS

Euclides
ΣΤΟΙΧΕΙΩΝ,
Basel, 1533
bound together with:
Regiomontanus Johannes,
DE TRIANGULIS OMNIMODIS
Nuremberg, 1533
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 9
Its title page bears a dedication in Rheticus’hand.

Apianus Petrus
INSTRUMENTUM PRIMI MOBILIS.
Accedunt
Gebri filii Affla,
DE ASTRONOMIA LIBRI IX.
Nuremberg, 1534
bound together with:
Witelo,
ΠΕΡΊ ΌΠΤΙΚΉΣ
Nuremberg, 1535
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 8
The title page of Apian’s Instrumentum carries the dedication written by G.J.Rheticus.

Ptolemaeus Claudius,
MAGNE CONSTRUCTIONIS….LIB. XIII.
WITH THEON’S COMMENTARY
Basel, 1538
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 10
This is the first Greek edition of Ptolemy’s Syntaxis. Its title page bears a dedication by Rheticus.

MEDICAL BOOKS BEQUEATHED BY COPERNICUS TO DOCTOR FABIAN EMMERICH.

Villa Nowa Arnoldus de
BREVIARUM PRACTICAE MEDICINAE
Pavia 1485
bound together with:
Savonarola Joannes Michael,
CANONICA DE FEBRIBUS
Bologna 1487
The Varmian and Masurian Museum in Olsztyn

Senesis Hugo
SUPER QUARTA FEN PRIMI CANONIS AVICENNAE (Completed by Marsilius de Sancta Sophia).
Venice, 1485
bound together with:
Savonarola Joannes Michael
PRACTICA MEDICINAE
Venice 1486
Strängnäss Incunab. Gol. 452
Fabian Emmerich obtained this book on the basis of Copernicus’ last will.

Tarenta Valascus de
PRACTICA SIUE PHILONIUM
Lyons, 1490
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 7

Argellata Petrus de,
CHIRURGIA
Venice 1499
bound together with:
Silvaticus Matthaeus,
LIBER PANDECTARUM MEDICINAE.- QUAESTIONES ALIORUM AUCTORUM
Venice 1498
30,5 x 21 cm
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 14
On the last page of item book ( fol. 182 v) there is a long medical prescription beautifully written by Copernicus, while some notes at the beginnig=ng of the book also come form his hand.

Montagnana Bartholomeus,
CONSILIA,
Cermisonus Antonius

CONSILIA,

Caballa Franciscus
TRACTATUS DE ANIMALI THERIA.
Venice 1514
31 x 22 cm
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, 42 : 52 (Obr.)
The margins of the volume contain some 20 short notes, written undeniably by Copernicus, who also wrote a long medical note in two Columns on the recto of the last folio. ( noty na k. 345v, 346,349 i 406)

Regiomontanus Johannes
CALENDARIUM,
Augsburg, 1492
bound together with:
Regiomontanus Johannes,
EPHEMERIDES 1491 – 1506,
Augsburg, 1492
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 13

Stoeffler Johannes, Pflaum Jacobus
ALMANACH NOUA IN ANNOS 1499 – 1531,
Ulm 1499
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 11

Ptolemaeus Claudius,
COSMOGRAPHIA
Ulm, 1486
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, incunab. 32: 10

Plinius Secundus,
HISTORIA NATURALIS
Venice, 1487
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 12

Ptolemaeus Claudius
ALMAGESTUM SEU MAGNAE CONSTRUCTIONIS LIBER.
(The Latin translation of the Syntaxis by Gerard of Cremona)
Venice, 1515
Uppsala, Universttetsbiblioteket, Copernicana 17

Stoeffler Johannes
CALENDARIUM ROMANUM MAGNUM
Oppenheim, 1518
Uppsala, Library of the Astronomical Observatory, Coll. Hjorter G. I. 51