Thread:Sannse/@comment-28333252-20180430025905/@comment-8-20180430170715

If you can't get the full history into a XML file using Special:Download on the single file (big history!) then the best way is to copy and paste the version you want. Just pick the version out of the history, make sure you are on the wikitext tab, and then C&P.

It's not practical to do for a large number of files, but it should get you through those with extra large histories.