Biografia universale antica e moderna ossia Storia per alfabeto della vita pubblica e privata di tutte le persone che si distinsero per opere, azioni, talenti, virtù e delitti. Opera affatto nuova compilata in Francia da una: 32

The Biografia universale antica e moderna is a monumental Italian translation and adaptation of the original French 'Biographie universelle, ancienne et moderne,' which was first conceived by Louis-Gabriel Michaud during the early 19th century. This ambitious encyclopedic project sought to provide a comprehensive record of historical figures from antiquity to the contemporary era, organizing them alphabetically by life and deeds. The Italian edition was published in Venice by G.B. Missiaglia throughout the 1820s and 1830s, reflecting a period of intense interest in European intellectual history and the preservation of biographical knowledge.

The editorial work was guided by a desire to synthesize vast amounts of historical data into a standardized, accessible format for an educated readership. By including individuals defined not only by their contributions and virtues but also by their crimes or scandalous actions, the editors aimed for a rigorous, if sometimes moralistic, historical objectivity. The series is celebrated by bibliophiles for its meticulous documentation and the scholarly depth of its entries, which remains a valuable resource for researchers interested in 19th-century perspectives on global historical figures.