Title Copper with Portrait of Tycho Brahe

What it is

This is the engraved title plate from Tycho Brahe's book Astronomiae Instauratae Mechanica, which describes the instruments he used for astronomical observation. The central portrait shows Brahe in a fur-trimmed cap and ruff, flanked by coats of arms, with a Latin inscription below. It is held by the Deutsche Fotothek in Germany.

Why it matters

This title page connects Brahe's image directly to the record of his scientific instruments, showing how closely his personal identity was tied to his work as an astronomer and instrument maker.

• Why might a book about scientific instruments include a portrait of its author?
• What do the coats of arms around the portrait suggest about Brahe's family background?
• What is the purpose of the Latin inscription beneath the portrait?