Exhibition marks 550th anniversary of Copernicus' birth

Only 99 copies of Copernicus' manuscript reproductions were made. They include full reproductions of the indentations left by his pen and compass and the medieval-style covers are inlaid with gold and 320 gems, including a fragment of the oldest known meteorite on Earth.

Visitors can have a close encounter with Copernicus' original manuscripts, learn about the astronomer's life, and understand the process that led to the completion of a masterpiece in the history of science.

In China, there are only two surviving original editions of On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres from the 16th century. One is held by the National Library of China and has been included in the National Catalog of Precious Ancient Books, the other is in the collection from the Ptolemy Museum being exhibited this time.