The book printing

Tycho had his first books printed in Copenhagen. These include his book about the new star, De Nova Stella, printed in 1573. Examples of the book can be found at e.g. Rundetårn in Copenhagen and at the University Library in Lund. Whilst Tycho could have his books printed in Copenhagen even after he had moved to Hven, he needed to be at the printer’s all the time. He wanted to supervise the work sheet by sheet. It was also a question of security. He was constantly afraid that someone else would gain access to his findings and publish them in his/her own name. Therefore, in 1584, he began to build his own printing facility at Uraniborg, where he could print his own books and at the same time could devote himself to his observations.

Books printed at Uraniborg
Diarium Astrologicum et Metheorologicum was printed at Uraniborg in 1586. This was a calendar compiled by one of Tycho Brahe’s students, Elias Olsen Morsing.

De Mundi Aetherei Recentioribus Phaenomenis (About Recently Viewed Phenomena in the Ether Sphere) was printed in 1588. Tycho Brahe writes in a letter to a friend that the book was printed already in 1587, but by putting 1588 as the year of printing, the book would appear newer. "De Mundi" is about the great comet he observed in 1577. Here, Tycho published for the first time his world system, with the earth as the centre of the universe. A second printing of the book was sold by Tycho’s heirs after his death in 1601, and this was published with a reprinted title page in Frankfurt in 1610. However, the paper sheets are printed at Uraniborg. Copies of the book can be found at e.g. Landskrona Museum, Collection Lengertziana at the Malmö Town Library and at the Royal Library of Copenhagen.

Astronomiae Instauratae Progymnasmata is Tycho Brahe’s second book about the new star. The first book, De Nova Stella, was printed in Copenhagen in 1573. "Progymnasmata" also contains a description of the instruments Tycho Brahe used, sun and moon theories, as well as a catalogue of 777 stars, measured by him and his assistants. The major part of the book was printed at Uraniborg, but it was not finished until after Tycho’s death. His colleague Johann Kepler completed and published the book in 1602. Some copies were printed in 1603. Copies of the book can be found at e.g. Landskrona Museum and the Royal Library of Copenhagen.

Astronomiae Instauratae Mechanica (The New Astronomy’s Instrumentology). Besides descriptions and pictures of buildings and instruments on Hven, it contains Tycho Brahe’s autobiography. This book was started at Uraniborg, and in 1596, a pamphlet with 18 woodcut pictures of instruments and buildings was published. The book was completed in Germany, and printed at Wandsburg in 1598. Copies of the book can be found at e.g. University Library in Lund, The Royal Library of Copenhagen, The Royal Science Academy in Stockholm, Tschechisches Literaturmuseum in Prague, S Marco Library in Venice, Bodleian Library in Oxford, Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris and the University Library of Göttingen.

En Elementisch oc Jordisch Astrologia is the only book in Danish printed on Hven. This book was written by Peder Jacobsen Flemløse. The author was a student of Tycho Brahe, who had the book printed to make sure the printer had something to do between other assignments. To forecast the weather using astrological methods was in Tycho Brahe’s opinion not suitable for the ordinary man. Therefore, God had arranged that signs should be given in the air, to show what was to happen. Frederic II wanted to know more about such signs, and ordered Tycho to publish a book about them. Tycho had other things to do, and passed on the assignment to Flemløse. Many of the rules were already in common practice among farmers and others: when swallows fly low it means rain, when pigs throw straw about with their snouts as if they were mad, it will be rain, and so on. In this book, science is combined with folklore. The book was printed for the first time on Hven in 1591. New editions were later published in Copenhagen. Copies of the book can be found at the University Library of Lund, the Royal Library of Copenhagen (copy printed in Copenhagen in 1644).

Epistolarum Astronomicarum Liber Primus
was printed at Uraniborg 1596. In this book, Tycho published the first part of his comprehensive letter collection. The second part was never published. The book was printed on paper manufactured on Hven. Copies of this book can be found at the Royal Library of Copenhagen, Landskrona Museum (on display during the summer at the Tycho Brahe Museum on Hven), Collection Lengertziana at Malmö Town Library.