Pierre Charles Levesque — Historie de Russie

Paris, Debure, 1782. First edition. Leather. The first edition of Pierre Charles Levesque's noted history of Russia. Written using primary sources acquired during his seven years living in Russia. The first edition. In the original French. Illustrated, with a folding map to the rear of volume IV and volume V. Levesque stayed in Russia for seven years where he collected material for this history. He lived there as a professor on the recommendation of Diderot. This history was a great success and in Russia it became a classic text. Levesque's work was responsible for forming influence and perspective of Russia to a Western audience. In uniform mottled calf bindings. Collated, complete with half-titles to all volumes. An important historical account of Russia from the eighteenth century, which has In contemporary mottled calf binding. Externally, sound with rubbing to the spines, heaviest to volume I where there is loss to the backstrip. Loss to spine labels of all volumes, Volume I is lacking both spine labels. Head of spine to volume III has loss. Chips to the extremities of front endpaper to volume I. Front hinge to volume I is strained after page XXIV. Internally, all volumes are generally firmly bound though strained in places. Good . Ill.: None. Good .