Day: October 12, 2012

Front facade of Houghton Library

You’ve Got Mail: Your Illustrious Lordship’s Most Obliged Servant, Galileo Galilei

The recipient of this 1601 Galileo letter is Giovanni Battista Strozzi, a member of a wealthy and powerful Florentine family, whose status is reflected in the flattery Galileo lavishes on a poem Strozzi has sent him. The very beautiful poem and the most pleasing letter from you, Sir, have given me double contentment, the latter…