Johns Hopkins University's Sheridan Libraries today announced that it had acquired a collection of 280 rare books and manuscripts relating to the history of scientific discovery. The collection was assembled by the late Dr. Elliott Hinkes, a member of the School of Medicine’s class of 1967.

“This is one of the most significant collections ever acquired by the Sheridan Libraries,” said Winston Tabb, Sheridan Dean of University Libraries and Museums. “We are honored to have been chosen by the Hinkes family as the recipient of these magnificent volumes."

The collection includes a 1495 edition of the works of Aristotle; a first edition of Galileo’s illustrated treatise on the discovery of sunspots (1613); a first edition of Sir Isaac Newton’s treatise on gravitation, the Principia (1687); and the first appearance in print of Charles Darwin’s (shown here) theory of evolution (1858).

You can get a peek at the works in this Flickr slideshow. Besides carrying historical significance, they're stunning for their beauty. And if you want to get a sense of Hopkins' rare book collection, take a tour of the Evergreen mansion and its amazing libraries. You'll never look at your home bookshleves in the same way, I guarantee.