In 1632 Galileo, one of the earliest pioneers of scientific discovery, was summoned before the court of the Inquisition to answer for the heretical statements of scientific fact which he had made in his newly published "Dialogo Dei Due Massimi Sistemi Del Monde."

A copy of the first edition of this work, which on its appearance 300 years ago was enthusiastically hailed by the adherents of scientific progress and condemned by the Church authorities, was received recently by the Widener Library and is now on exhibition in the Treasure Room. This volume which was presented to the Library by the late Robert Wheeler Willson, bears Galileo's autograph, being a special present to the author's friend, Sebastian Venieris.

Two other books of considerable value and great historic interest have been placed on exhibition, with Galileo's famous dialogues on the movements of the earth and the operation of the solar system. One of these is entitled, "Remarks on the Life and Writings of Jonathan Swift" and is written by the Earl of Orrey, who was acquainted with Swift as with Pope and the other important literary men of the time. The volume received by the Library is one of a private edition published in 1751, before the first general edition, which proved of such great popularity that the 1500 copies printed were disposed of in two days.

The third volume in the present exhibit goes back to the first half century of the art of printing, being brought out in Venice in 1483.