Histoire generale de Sicile

First edition, rare. Title pages in red and black. Typographic ornaments: headpieces, tailpieces, initials. Lacking the two maps normally found in volume 1.
Contemporary full marbled sheep bindings. Spines with raised bands decorated with acorn tools in compartments. Brown morocco title labels and red morocco volume labels. Rubbing. 2 corners slightly bumped. 2 small cracks at head of first volume. Fine domino paper endpapers. Some leaves yellowed, occasional worming. Handsome copy.
The introductory chapter treats the arts in Sicily under Antiquity, then studies their history from earliest Antiquity with the establishment of the Phoenicians in Sicily and the founding of Palermo up to the author's contemporary period. Sicily has known a turbulent history since its occupation by the Phoenicians, then by the Greeks, by the Carthaginians, finally by the Romans, then the Vandals, the Ostrogoths, the Byzantines, the Muslims, the Normans, etc. Its history is extremely rich and symbolizes that of the great revolutions of Europe. Hoefer VII, 840: "The style of this work leaves much to be desired, but the facts are exactly reported." Indeed, Burigny is by no means a stylist, but today, this factual and informative language that is his would be rather an asset than a defect.