Joseph-François Michaud. STORIA DELLE CROCIATE PER A. MICHAUD ADORNA DI CENTO GRANDI COMPOSIZIONI DI GUSTAVO DORÉ. Milan: Edoardo Sonzogno, Editore, 1878. Hardcover. Half bound leather over red textured cloth boards, gilt and raised bands on spine, marbled edges. Large folio; 405, [3]pp. plus 100 full-page plates with illustrations by Doré. Italian text in double columns.

17 x 12 1/2 in.

From the Collection of Professor Roberto Severino, Washington, D.C.

Joseph-François Michaud (1767-1839) was a French historian who began publishing his history of the Crusades early in the 19th century before traveling in the 1830s to collect additional information for his project. All six volumes of the history were published in 1840, and then translated into English from the original French the following decade. In the mid 1870s, Doré illustrated Michaud's work in 100 powerful engravings. History of the Crusades is still often considered the foremost book on the subject by many scholars.

Good condition; boards scuffed, edgewear with corners rubbed, streaking to front board, spine fine except for rubbing at head and tail; interior with scattered foxing throughout, endpapers toned, one page with small area of staining. An oversized, sturdy, and well-illustrated volume.