JUAN FRANCISCO DE MASDEU - HISTORIA CRITICA DE ESPAÑA - SANCHA 1783

Subject: Old book from the 18th century. History of Spain. Illustrated academic edition. Imprenta de Sancha. Juan Francisco de Masdeu.

Publication: Madrid, Imprenta de Sancha, 1783-1797. First complete edition in 18 volumes.

Binding: Original full calf from the Sancha workshops; red and green labels, five raised bands, gilt fillets and floral tools; sprinkled edges.

Measurements: Quarto (21.5 × 15.5 cm approx.).

Detailed pagination by volume:
Vol. I (1783): Preliminary discourse; XX pp. + 339 pp.
Vol. II (1784): Ancient Spain – Part I; XXVIII pp. + 339 pp.
Vol. III (1785): Ancient Spain – Part II; XXIV pp. + 382 pp.
Vol. IV (1787): Roman Spain – Part I; XLVIII pp. + 569 pp.
Vol. V (1788): Roman Spain – Part II; XXXVIII pp. + 525 pp.
Vol. VI (1789): Roman Spain – Part II; 658 pp. + 1 leaf.
Vol. VII (1789): Roman Spain – Part II; 425 pp.
Vol. VIII (1790): Roman Spain – Part III; 448 pp.
Vol. IX (1791): Visigothic Spain – Part I; 4 ll. + XXIV pp. + 506 pp. + 1 leaf.
Vol. X (1791): Visigothic Spain – Part II; 3 ll. + 376 pp. + 1 leaf.
Vol. XI (1792): Visigothic Spain – Part III; 452 pp. + 1 leaf.
Vol. XII (1793): Arab Spain – Part I; XXXI pp. + 435 pp.
Vol. XIII (1794): Arab Spain – Part II; XXXIII pp. + 462 pp. + 1 leaf.
Vol. XIV (1794): Arab Spain – Part III; 501 pp.
Vol. XV (1795): Arab Spain – continuation Part III; 2 ll. + 495 pp. + 3 folded plates.
Vol. XVI (1796): Supplement to the 15 volumes; 4 ll. + 424 pp. + 1 plate.
Vol. XVII (1797): Continuation supplement; 2 ll. + 540 pp. + 1 folded plate.
Vol. XVIII (1797): Continuation supplement; 2 ll. + 481 pp. + 1 folded plate.

Description: Monumental illustrated history covering Spanish politics, legislation, science, arts and culture from prehistory to the 11th c. Written by the expelled Jesuit Juan Francisco Masdeu, it combines patriotic fervour with rationalist analysis, dismantles legends (Cid) and attacks the ecclesiastical hierarchy; hence vols. VIII, XI & XIII were placed on the Roman Index. Printed at Antonio de Sancha’s Royal-Press with clear typography, wood-cut initials and excellent laid paper; 2 extra vols. appeared in 1800 and 1805.

Author: Juan Francisco de Masdeu (1744-1817), Italian historian and humanist resident in Spain, member of the Royal Academy of History.

Condition: Good copy. Complete texts; paper slightly darkened and occasional marginal damp-stain; small wear to edges and heads; previous owner stamps on title pages. Fully checked.