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Rare Mountaineering Books for sale. Fine First Editions of Alpine and Himalayan classic Mountaineering Books.

Aitken S. AMONG THE ALPS. A Narrative of Personal Experiences  Privately Published by the author as a Christmas present for his friends. 1900 Limited Edition in small numbers (probably no more than 50 copies) inscribed by the author, to his Gloucester friend. The name has since been removed.   pp xv. + 119.  descriptive text with 73 photographic plates [17 x 23 cms.] by Vittorio Sella. J. Brunner. stamp. on fine quality Japanese? paper. a.e.g. recased in publishers cloth gilt. Oblong folio [28 x 38 cms.]  This is certainly one of the most grandly produced Alpine mountaineering books and Very Rare indeed. only 18 copies were published.  SOLD

Behrens [1827-1888] (of Manchester) J. ASCENT OF MONT BLANC includes views of Dente Geante and Courmayeur.  pencilled notes give date of 1851   21 watercolour sketches of the ascent.  see website  

 Bonnet J. (Librairie) SOUVENIRS DE LA SUISSE.   Lucerne.  c1860   50 tinted lithographs grand format [25 x 35 cms.] after Deroy & Loppé of Chamouny, Ascension de Mont Blanc, Mer de Glace, Premier Ascension de l'Aiguille du Midi, Cervin (Matterhorn), St. Bernard, Zurich. Vue de Suisse & Vue de Savoie. Not in Perret. Gattlen cites 2 copies each with 25 views. Original maroon cloth worn and st. oblong qto. [265 x 345]. Very Rare.  

 Charlet (libraire) A. SOUVENIRS DU MONT BLANC.   Wild, Paris.  1851 - 1861   24 tinted lithographs [16 x 23 cms.] after Deroy & Loppe of Chamouny, Ascension de Mont Blanc, Jardin, Mer de Glace, Bossons, Grand Mulet, Premier Ascension de l'Aiguille du Midi (2), Zermatt, Cervin (Matterhorn), Mont Rose, Theodule, Sallenche, St. Gervais Original green cloth with gilt decoration. oblong qto. [265 x 345] new morocco spine. Very Rare.  Near Fine

Cole Mrs. H.W. A LADY'S TOUR ROUND MONTE ROSA  with visits to the Italian Valleys....in a series of excursions in 1850. 56 & 58.  Longmans, Green. 1859 1st.  pp402.  Hand coloured title vignette. frontis. chromo and 3 chromolithographs from sketches by Mr. George Barnard. 8 wood engravings. fold. litho the 'map of the District'.  orig. pink cloth gilt. bright gilt rose motif on front cover. exceptionally rare. ex SAC Library label. r.s.m. Rev. C. Hutchinson.  Near Fine-

Coleman E.T. SCENES FROM THE SNOW-FIELDS; being Illustrations of the Upper Ice-World of Mont Blanc,  from sketches made on the spot in the years 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858; with Historical and Descriptive Remarks, and a Comparision of the Chamonix and St. Gervais Roures.  London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longman, and Roberts. 1859 1st. Edition  pp. 47 12 beautiful chromolithographed plates (the views lithographed and printed in colours) by Vincent Brooks after E.T. Coleman. One of the rarest and most valuable of all mountaineering books. Coleman…one of the earliest painters of the Alps…he ascended Mont Blanc twice. light spotting to most text pages. original cloth gilt title, sl. faded edges, rebacked with calf sp. Elephant Folio 56 x 38 cms.  

 Collie from the Library of Walt Unsworth. CLIMBING ON THE HIMALAYA AND OTHER MOUNTAIN RANGES.   David Douglas. 1902 1st.  pp315. photogravure frontis. only has very sl. foxing and 17 illus. 3 cold. fold. maps. orig. green cloth gilt. uncut. t.e.g. John O'Reilly Mountain Books sticker. a rare book.

Deroy I.-L. SOUVENIRS DE LA SUISSE. Dessinée d'après nature et lith. par DEROY  Charnaux a Geneve et Wild a Paris.  1854-61  75 two tone lithograph vues 4° oblong [25 x 33 cms]  see Gattlen 2314. Geneve, Gr. St. Bernard, Simplon, Zermatt, Visp et Monte Rosa, Sion, Zurich, Berne, Mont Blanc and many more..   orig. fine gilt dec. boards.  

 Dikenman R. SOUVENIR DE LA SUISSE.   R. Dikenman, Zurich.  1833 23.5 x 32.5 cms. 14 x 19.5 cms 15 fine aquatints [14 x 19 cms.] Geneve Mont Blanc, Lausanne, Vevay, Chamouni, Montanvert, Berne, Interlaken, Staubbach, Brienz, Grindelwald, Eiger Monch & Joungfrau, Lucerne, Guillaume Tell, Righi Kulm, Zurich. coloured by hand with gum arabic. original cloth gilt, sl. rubbed. large 4to.  Very Good

Freshfield D.W. THE EXPLORATION OF THE CAUCASUS.   London: Edward Arnold.  1896 1st.   pp278 + 295. 79 mounted plates on India paper reproducing photographs chiefly by Vittorio Sella,  including 3 folding panoramas; 4 folding maps,   as published TWO VOLUMES folio [32 x 25 cms.] original quarter vellum and buckram, sp. gilt title, some darkening. t.e.g. uncut. This edition on large paper is limited to 100 copies of which this is number 16. original price £5, 5s. (not more than seventy-five will be for sale).  Near Fine-

George H.B. THE ALPINE JOURNAL: The Journal of the Alpine Club. A Record of Mountain Adventure and Scientific Observation.  Longman, Green, Longman, Roberts, & Green.  1863.4-2016 Vol. I 1864 - Vol. 120 2016  profusely illustrated throughout with lithographs, wood engravings, diagrams, maps and photographs etc. All volumes, inc. 5 index vols., bound in Alpine Club tan/gilt vignette block cloth, some with orig. wrappers bound in at rear. Climbers Club Library label and that of John Barford, Secretary thence from the Library of Walt Unsworth  SOLD

Howard-Bury Lieut.-Col. C.K. MOUNT EVEREST THE RECONNAISSANCE: 1921.   Edward Arnold & Co. 1922  Limited Editon.   photogravure frontispiece, with 46 plates inc. 14 extra photogravure (2 fold. panoramas), 3 folding maps. This is number 71 of 200 large paper copies. original vellum-backed cloth gilt title, red buckram, large paper uncut, t.e.g.   Near Fine-

Hunt J. THE ASCENT OF EVEREST.   Hodder & Stoughton. 1953 1st. Limited  pp300.  cold. frontis. 7 cold. plates. 48 b/w. text illus. by Charles Evans. Limited Edition: no. 10 of 20 copies signed by John Hunt and Edmund Hillary. original publishers de-luxe binding in 1/2 blue morocco and cloth. t.e.g. head and tailpiece. bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.  Fine- SOLD

Lamy J.-P. GRAND ST. BERNARD. album of 10 hand coloured aquatints.  c1830      

 MacGregor J. THE ASCENT OF MONT BLANC. a series of four views.  Printed in oil colours by George Baxter. 1855  with the Baxter blind impression stamp in lower margin - rare in this state The rare set of four coloured views, 107 x 150 mm.  as issued, on original card mount with Baxter blind stamp impression [18.5 x 25.5 cms.].

Martyn T. SKETCH OF A TOUR THROUGH SWISSERLAND;  to which is added a short account of an Expedition to the Summit of Mont Blanc, by M. De Saussure, of Geneva. London: Printed for G. Kearsley, at No. 46 Fleet Street. 1788 a New Edition.   pp 134 + 166. with an accurate map [fold.]. contains the first English translation of 'Relation abrégée..' pp. 97 - 127. Bound with An Appendix to the Gentlemen's Guide through Italy. by the Author of the Guide. 1787. Original calf backed marbled boards. Uncut pages and appears to be unread.. Most Rare.  SOLD

Moore A.W. THE ALPS IN 1864 A Private Journal.  Privately Published by the Author. 1867   pp360.  10 maps.  original blind stamped green cloth gilt. One of only *100 copies. This copy is TWICE inscribed in ink by the author 'Richard C. Plowden from AWM.' on the f.e.p. and again on the r.f.e.p. ! and signed 'W.R. Neate 16/12/74'  Very Good

Mumm A.L. FIVE MONTHS IN THE HIMALAYA. A Record of Mountain Travel in Garhwal and Kashmir  Edward Arnold.  1909 1st.  pp257.  frontis. illus. 2 fold. maps. orig. blue cloth gilt. t.e.g. uncut. bookplate of Raymond Greene. Really quite rare.  Near Fine

Saussure H.-B. de VOYAGES DANS LES ALPES, precedes d'un essai sur l'Histoire Naturelle des environs de Geneve.  Chez Samuel Fauche, Imprimeur et Libraire du Roi. Barde, Manget & Compagnie. Louis Fauche-Borel.  1779. 1786. 1796. 1796. A Neuchâtel and Geneve. The Rare 1st..  pp540+641+532+594 2 cartes inc. Mont Blanc and 8 (some fold.) plates. 5 plates. 2 fold. plates. 5 fold. plates. le chemin du St. Gothard, Vue du Mont-Blanc, Vue de l'aiguille du Geant, Le Mont-Blanc, Le Mont-Rofe vu des environs de Macugnaga. all volumes with title page vignette. ** The carte of Mont Blanc is not present and apparently never bound in vol.II the Geneva edition. 4 volumes in quarto (253 x 195mm). Contemporary speckled half roan over speckled boards, spines gilt with labels, speckled edges.  Very Good

Siegfried H. and other artists H. SOUVENIR DE LA SUISSE. (Gattlen 1043-4)  Füssli & Ci. 1833 23.5 x 32.5 cms. 14 x 19.5 cms 29 fine aquatints coloured by hand. dess. by Siegfried, Meyer, Buhlmann, Winterlin, Suter  &c. original cloth gilt, marked large 4to. Zurich,  

 Smith Albert MONT BLANC FAN. Original paper-leaf fan with lithograph illustrations of views and diagrams depicting Albert Smith's ascent of Mont Blanc on both sides. Lith. Brioude Laguerie, rue des Fontaines 5, Paris. Duvelleroy Fan Manufacturers, 167 Regent Street, London. c1853  lithographed in Paris with views (after Beverley) of The Mur de la Cote, The Grands Mulets and 'Coming Down' on one side, and the Programme of Mr. Albert Smith's Ascent of Mont Blanc, August 12th. & 13th. 1851 in 2 parts and an illustration of the Route to the Summit of Mont Blanc on the other. on original 14 hardwood sticks. no gilt edge.  Near Fine

Smith Albert THE NEW GAME OF THE ASCENT OF MONT BLANC.   A.N. Myers Co., 15 Berners Street, Oxford Street. London: W c1856 3rd. edition  pp.20. [inc. pp 4 printed wrappers] with the very rare surviving Rules for Playing booklet, upper cover replaced in facsimile. Printed lithograph folding Game Sheet with additional hand colouring and gum arabic, 8 sections laid on linen [41 x 54 cms.] with 54 vignettes illustrating the Ascent of Mont Blanc and starting at The South Eastern Terminus. From C. Adlers Printing Establishment Hamburg. This edition published in blue cloth covers and contained in the original cloth covered box with gilt lettered red leather label on upper cover 'THE GAME OF THE ASCENT OF MONT BLANC'. with hook and eye fastener. Exceptionally rare as it also includes the original box of counters with 10 each of five, ten, twenty and also 22 of one (each player must have 3 dozen counters i.e. one of each) this would allow up to ten players?  There are four player 'markers' and the original 'teetotum' spinning top which lands on 1 - 6 when spun in the original black lacquered boxwood bowl with red, green and gold coloured rings. It is unlikely that another such example exists?

Walton E. PEAKS IN PEN AND PENCIL FOR STUDENTS OF ALPINE SCENERY. edited by T.G. Bonney  Longmans, Green. 1872 1st. pp viii Frontis and 23 plates ( reproduced in autotype) mounted on card Original cloth, worn. Spine complete but worn and torn. Bevelled edges. a.e.g. Folio [49 x 38 cms.] Very Rare.  Very Good-

Walton E. THE PEAKS AND VALLEYS OF THE ALPS. From Water-Colour Drawings.  Day and Son.  1867 1st.  pp61.  21 fine mounted chromolithographed plates by J.H. Lowes inc. The Matterhorn and Mont Blanc. with descriptive text by T.G. Bonney.  

 Whymper E. SCRAMBLES AMONGST THE ALPS IN THE YEARS 1860-69.    John Murray. 1871 true 1st. edition of which only 1245 copies were printed.  pp432.  21 full page engravings (these printed by the author). 90 text engravings. 5 fold. maps. The plate opp. p.127 'a cannonade on The Matterhorn' has the off white coloured sky. susequent editions do not. Fine Binding. cont. half green calf gilt, marbled boards, 5 raised bands, t.e.g. and uncut, marbled e.p.'s gilt. Charles Mathews (AC President) bookplate. rare.  Near Fine-

Worthington, Captain R.B.  CERTIFICAT d'ASCENSION au MONT-BLANC. ASCENSION DE LA CALOTTE DU MONT-BLANC.  1861 14th Aout Ascension No. 188 et des Guides Tairraz Jean, Balmat Alexandre, Devoussoux Michel. lithograph 46 x 30 [13x20] Ch. Weibel pinx. F. Baumann del. Loth. Ch. Gruaz a Geneve. on verso Ascensions au Mont-Blanc no.d'ordre 1-98 with names and dates. signed by Le Guide Chef Devouassaux, Jean Tairraz, Balmat Alexande, Devouassaux Michel.

HIMALAYAN JOURNAL, The Records of The Himalayan Club.  Thacker, Spink & Co. 1929-40 - 1946-1952-1954-1957 vols. I - XX  many illus. and maps, diagrams &c. a complete run of this important journal. Some of the early ones with some wear - ex-lib. r.s.m. S.M.C. orig. printed wrappers. Very Good- £1,200

Clifton Bingham THE ANIMALS' ALPINE CLUB.   Ernest Nister.  [1913] 1st.  pp52.  illustrated by G.H. Thompson with 8 chromo. cold. plates. illustrated title page and 19 full page and text  mono illus. and e.p.'s.  orig. cold. illus. boards, restored and repaired. Very Rare.

Frederick Clissold NARRATIVE OF AN ASCENT TO THE SUMMIT OF MONT BLANC, August 18th, 1822. with an appendix upon the sensations experienced  Printed for Rivingtons and Cochran. 1823 1st.  pp56.  the profits of the sale to be applied to the benefit of the Guides of Chamouni. original paper wrappers. really quite rare account of the 15th. ?? ascent.

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