As the UAE cements its place among a new generation of spacefaring nations – with missions to the Moon and Mars – Peter Harrington’s showcase at Abu Dhabi Art 2025 traces humanity’s enduring fascination with the cosmos. From Galileo’s Sidereus Nuncius to NASA’s iconic “Earthrise,” the exhibition bridges the dawn of celestial discovery with the region’s ambitious vision for the future of space exploration.
NOVEMBER 2025: Leading rare book dealer Peter Harrington will showcase three extraordinary space-exploration collectibles at Abu Dhabi Art 2025, charting humanity’s evolving relationship with the heavens – from Galileo’s first drawings of the surface of the Moon as seen through a telescope to the awe-inspiring first photograph of the earth from lunar orbit, and the signatures of every man who has landed on the moon.
At a moment when global and regional ambitions to return to the Moon and journey onward to Mars are reigniting imaginations, this collection invites reflection on the continuum of human curiosity: and how each generation reimagines its place within the universe.
Among Peter Harrington’s highlights at the fair is Galileo Galilei’s Sidereus Nuncius (1610), the first edition of the book that changed our understanding of the universe forever. Through his telescope, Galileo shattered centuries of belief in a perfect cosmos, revealing a Moon of mountains and craters, detecting at least ten times more stars than were visible to the naked eye, and finding four moons orbiting Jupiter – giving credence to the view that Earth did not lie at the centre of the universe. This landmark work, priced at £650,000, marks the dawn of observational astronomy.
Also on show will be the first colour photograph of Earth from space – NASA’s “Earthrise” (1968), captured by astronaut William Anders during Apollo 8. Described as “a magnificent spot of colour in the vastness of space”, this image became a catalyst for the environmental movement and remains a defining visual of the Earth’s fragility, and that of the human race inhabiting it. Early NASA red-number prints, such as this one, are exceptionally scarce, and it is priced at £47,500.
Completing the display is a Grumman Apollo Lunar Module lithograph (c.1972), signed by over 300 figures central to the Apollo programme – including all 12 men who walked on the moon, alongside political leaders and pioneering engineers. Valued at £95,000, this remarkable collectible encapsulates the collaborative spirit that made “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” possible.
“These pieces remind us that humanity’s fascination with space has never dimmed – only evolved and expanded over time,” says Pom Harrington, owner of Peter Harrington. “In 2025, as new missions prepare to revisit the Moon and set their sights on Mars, these artefacts resonate more than ever. They connect humankind’s first steps in understanding our universe to our present ambitions of space exploration.”
These rare collectibles will be on public display and available for acquisition at Peter Harrington’s stand A18 at Abu Dhabi Art, 19–23 November 2025, at Manarat Al Saadiyat.
ABOUT PETER HARRINGTON
Peter Harrington is one of the most respected and dynamic names in the world of rare books, with permanent galleries in London and New York.
From its beginnings in London in 1969, the firm has built an international reputation for sourcing and selling the finest first editions, signed and inscribed books, rare manuscripts, fine bindings, and library sets. Over more than fifty years, Peter Harrington has handled thousands of significant works, from incunabula, early illuminated manuscripts, and Shakespeare folios to landmark works of science, literature, political thought, travel, philosophy, and the arts.
With a team of subject specialists and bibliographers, the firm brings exceptional depth of knowledge to every item it handles, and works closely with collectors, libraries, and institutions to build collections of lasting cultural and scholarly value.
Its galleries in Chelsea and Mayfair in London, as well as New York’s Upper East Side, offer a welcoming, elegant setting to explore rare books and works on paper.
The firm also exhibits at leading rare book and art fairs across the globe, from New York and Los Angeles to Hong Kong, Maastricht, Abu Dhabi, and Melbourne – reflecting its place at the heart of the international rare book community.
As a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association, Peter Harrington offers an unconditional guarantee on the authenticity and completeness of each item it sells, as described in the Editor’s Notes.