This volume contains a critical edition of Copernicus's main work De revolutionibus . Copernicus's autograph as well as all former printed editions were considered. The autograph contains multiple deletions, additions and other changes in Copernicus's hand which are of great relevance to the genesis of the 1543 edition of De revolutionibus printed in Nuremberg. They were therefore noted in the critical apparatus.

A digitized KWIC (Key Word in Context) Index to this edition is accessible under Index zu De revolutionibus.