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A first edition of the book in which Nicolaus Copernicus presented his earthshaking theory of the cosmos has fetched more than $ 2.2 million at a New York auction, nearly doubling the expected price. The 1543 copy of Copernicus’ De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres) was among more than 300 books offered at Christie’s. The auction house says the sale brought in a total of more than $11 million. The Copernicus book puts forth the astronomer’s theory that the Sun — rather than the Earth — is at the centre of the solar system. Christie’s called the volume offered for sale "arguably the finest copy in private hands." It was expected to sell for up to $1.2 million. The prices include the auction house’s commission, known as the buyer’s premium. — AP
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