Copernicus, who had studied in Kraków, opted for Johann Haller, who together with Kasper Hochfeld had already published the first illustrated work in Poland, Jan Łaski's Statutes (1506), and one of 25 works by Laurentius Corvinus (1508). Corvinus had lectured at the Kraków Academy while Copernicus studied there, and they were well acquainted.
Haller published the book before the end of 1509. Its cover featured the arms of Poland, Lithuania and Kraków.