Russia. KARAMZIN. Istoria dell'Impero di Russia.

7 Volumes in 4to. 235x160 mm. Unbound, loose quires. One folded map, copper-engraved with out-line colouring, in volume 1, 9 leaves of genealogical tables folded in volume 8. Volume 3 is missing. Some slight foxing, generally good condition, untrimmed copy.

Rare first Italian edition, authoritative historical source on Russia. This is the most important work by the Russian writer and historian, 1766-1826, who had much influence on the literary development of his country. The author devoted himself to it from 1804 until his death: it is divided into 12 volumes and deals with the history of Russia from its origins to 1612. The first eight volumes were published in 1818, when Russia was very interested in its own history, exalted by nationalistic pride after the long and victorious anti-Napoleonic war, and therefore enjoyed great popularity. Three more volumes were published later, while the twelfth, unfinished, was published posthumously.

This monumental work, modelled on Edward Gibbon's work on the decline and fall of the Roman Empire, also served as an inspiration for Modest Petrovic Musorgsky in the composition of his operatic masterpiece Boris Godunov. The large map outlines the entire territory of Russia in the 9th century. 

The Italian translation is by the Venetian scholar and art historian Giannantonio Moschini.