(1)
"search" for both 1.8, 2.0 works only for "value" of history* table, but not for description of items as noted in the documentation.
I guess "search" in the history.get method appeared only by copy-paste from another API method.

(2)
"history" description is not clear, need to add link to the items definition: http://www.zabbix.com/documentation/1.8/api/item/constants#value_types

Successfully tested examples:
{
"history":1,
"output":"extend",
"filter":

{ "value":[ "1.8.8rc1", "1.8.8rc2" ] }

,
"limit":3
}

{
"history":1,
"output":"extend",
"search":

{ "value":"rc" }

,
"limit":3
}