About the Copernicus’ Letters

The presented collection of correspondence includes 16 personal letters of Nicolaus Copernicus – their photocopies, translations and transcripts.

Apart from this collection, the NICOLAUS COPERNICUS THORUNENSIS Portal contains another private letter of Copernicus addressed to Bernard Wapowski, published in the Astronomical Writings, Tables and Notes subsection due to its scientific nature. In the remaining letters, with the exception of one addressed to canon Felix Reich and concerning monetary matters, there is basically no information about Copernicus's scientific views. The astronomer wrote his letters mostly on minor matters, often related to his current activity, and their addressees were usually Copernicus's superiors – the bishops of Warmia. Such a narrow circle of recipients of the preserved correspondence does not have to correspond to the actual range of contacts maintained and information passed on, it is rather the result of the destruction or loss of other letters of Copernicus addressed to people whose legacy has been lost or destroyed.

Copernicus' personal letters, which are small in volume, reveal his proficiency in the use of Latin stylistics, especially epistolographic, another expression of which was the translation of Theophylact Simocatta's Letters of Customs published in 1509. letter, elaborate word inlay. The Latin language clearly dominates the correspondence of Copernicus. Only two letters were written by him in German due to the poor knowledge of Latin that characterized their addressee – the Prussian prince Albrecht Hochenzollern.

Prepared on the basis of: Mikołaj Kopernik, Minor Writings, Warsaw 2007.