Using our magnificent spyglass, the Classic Pirates have sighted another Gift With Purchase which may interest LEGO Pirate fans, 40595 Tribute to Galileo Galilei.

The 306 piece display set depicts the study of historic astronomer Galileo and features brick-built versions of his inventions and equipment, rather beautiful depictions of Age of Sail technology.

The set will be released under the LEGO® Ideas brand and valued at around US$25 / AU$39.

An official release date or purchase thresholds (estimated around $120) have not been officially announced, but it’s speculated the set will be available from 1 November, 2023 after the incumbent 40599 Houses of the World 4 and  40659 Mini Steamboat Willie GWPs sail off into the sunset.

40595 Tribute to Galileo Galilei is available with purchases of $130 / €130 / £130 and above from 1 November until the 16 November, 2023, while stocks last. Please visit LEGO.com from 1 November, 2023 for full details of the promotion.

Specifications

First, let’s take a look at the official box art:

Here’s the front of the box for 40595 Tribute-to Galileo Galilei

And around the back is an alternate build for Galileo’s dining room…

The official 40595 Tribute to Galileo Galilei webpage on LEGO.com states:

Pay tribute to legendary astronomer Galileo Galilei with this detailed LEGO® Ideas set (40595). Enjoy quality time building a research room with a buildable telescope, rotating heliocentric model, table, chest of drawers, ’stone’ experiments, map of Earth and a picture of the tower in his hometown of Pisa. Attach the nameplate and place the Galileo Galilei minifigure in the scene to complete a delightful centerpiece.

• Tribute to Galileo Galilei build-and-display set (40595) – Celebrate the groundbreaking scientific discoveries of Galileo Galilei with this LEGO® minifigure of the astronomer and a brick-built scene
• Detailed model – Features a buildable telescope, rotating heliocentric model, table, chest of drawers, ’stone’ experiments, map of Earth and a picture of the tower in his hometown of Pisa
• Gift idea for adults – This 306-piece model measures over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide and 4 in. (10 cm) deep and makes a fun gift for any LEGO® fan or adult interested in astronomy

Official Announcement

The LEGO Ideas blog officially announced the set on 26 October, 2023:

We’re delighted to reveal the latest LEGO® Ideas Gift with Purchase set 40595 Galileo Galilei, which was discovered in our “Ready, Set, Go STEM!” contest back in 2022. Submitted by @Firecracker_, also known as Jess!

Pay tribute to legendary astronomer Galileo Galilei with this detailed LEGO® Ideas set (40595). Enjoy quality time building a research room with a buildable telescope, rotating heliocentric model, table, chest of drawers, ’stone’ experiments, map of Earth, and a picture of the tower in his hometown of Pisa. Attach the nameplate and place the Galileo Galilei Minifigure in the scene to complete a delightful centerpiece.

This 307-piece model measures over 3.5 in. (9 cm) high, 7.5 in. (19 cm) wide and 4 in. (10 cm) deep.

This Gift with Purchase will be available from the 1st of November until the 16th of November, 2023, as long as stocks last, for qualifying purchases at $130 / €130 / £130 and above. For full details of the promotion, please visit LEGO.com from the 1st of November, 2023.

Congratulations to Jess!

LEGO Ideas

Tribute to Galileo Galilei was originally created by FIRECRACKER for the LEGO Ideas Ready, Set, Go Stem contest and announced as the winner on 14 June, 2022 with 1,432 fan votes.

This be the version submitted in the LEGO Ideas contest

FIRECRACKER writes:

A celebration of Galileo Galilei, the astronomer who contributed greatly to our understanding of space. Galileo improved the telescope to view our planets and stars, determined the Moon has mountains and craters, discovered Jupiter’s moons, studied the phases of Venus, and advocated for the Heliocentric theory. This set captures our spirit for scientific discovery!

Includes a micro Heliocentric model that rotates, a telescope, and bookshelf. This set consists of exactly 250 pieces.

The motorized feature is far too advanced for a Gift With Purchase set

The original version also contains a motorized feature in which the Earth orbits the Sun in motion. Unfortunately this feature does not appear to be incorporated into the final set.

What’s this Old Geezer Got to Do with Pirates?

This old geezer, who’s full name was Galileo di Vincenzo Bonaiuti de’ Galilei, but more commonly known as Galileo (15 February, 1564 – 8 January, 1642), was an Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer.

Galileo Galilei Showing the Doge of Venice How to Use the Telescope by Giuseppe Bertini (1858)

He got himself into strife with the Pope’s for advocating Copernican heliocentrism – that’s the astronomical model developed by Nicolaus Copernicus which places the Sun at the centre of the universe with Earth and other planets orbiting around it.

Galileo’s relevance to LEGO Pirate fans be that he lived during The Age of Sail and his inventions, or more specifically the gadgets included with this set may find themselves at home in your MOCs.  Or maybe yer a history aficionado and this little display set fits right in… or perhaps yer could expand upon it by incorporating it into a much larger scene.

How Do I Get Galileo?

Being a Gift with Purchase set you’ll need to register as a LEGO Insider to be eligible.

Only LEGO Insiders get to play with Galileo in his study

What be a LEGO Insider yer ask? It’s a VIP rewards program in which your LEGO.com purchases earn points for use with discounts, exclusive sets like 40597 Scary Pirate Island and member-only sweepstakes like winning a 40504 LEGO Minifigure Tribute set.

The Insiders points webpage on LEGO.com states:

Once you’ve earned your points, you can spend them on discounts on future purchases, exclusive sets and items, and digital products such as merchandise, coloring activities and alternative building instructions. You’ll also be able to use your points to get tickets to events and experiences and enter member-only sweepstakes.

UPDATE 30, March 2024

The LEGO Insiders webpage has moved here.

So if yer want a FREE 40595 Tribute to Galileo Galileie yer best register as a  LEGO Insider today so yer prepared for when the set becomes available!

* official affiliate links provided by Rakuten Marketing

What Do Yer Think?

Will Galileo be stargazing with your LEGO Pirates in the future?  Or is this curmudgeonly codger not relevant enough to be part of your collection?

If you get the set, you might be so kind as to repair the draw for him…

Or yer pirates might help themselves to his equipment – it sure would look great in your captain’s cabin!

Let’s us know what yer think of Galileo!  The Classic Pirates be waiting for yer in the LEGO Pirates Forum…