Narrative of an Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc (First Edition)

First Edition. London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Greene, 1828. 4to. Half patterned maroon cloth and marbled paper boards. xi, 120, [i]pp. 16 lithography plates, 2 maps (one folding, one coloured), folding panorama, folding geographical table.

Rebacked, retaining original spine strip with gilt titling. Half maroon textured cloth and marbled paper boards. Very good. Binding square and tight. Rubbing and some wear along edges of paper boards and cloth corners. A few markings to cover. Contents in very good condition. Some scattered foxing throughout. Three bookplates from two previous owners in preliminaries. All plates and maps in good order. Free of tearing with only minor foxing present.

A significant piece of Alpine literature. Auldjo's narrative of his ascent of Mont Blanc, the 15th successful ascent overall. This volume represents a captivating picture of a moment in early Alpine climbing history, when climbing Europe’s highest peak was a considerable physical and mental undertaking. When young John Auldjo, twenty-two years old, set out from Chanonix in August 1897 with the intent of scaling Mont Blanc, fewer than one hundred people had achieved the task.

The quality of this volume sets it apart from comparable publications. The fine aquatint plates provide panoramic views from the summit provide scenes portraying the Alps in their terrific majesty. Quarto in size, the textual pages are printed on fine, hand-laid paperstock and feature broad margins and large type. A truly marvellous and highly collectible volume.

Full title: Narrative of an Ascent to the Summit of Mont Blanc, on the 8th and 9th August, 1827.

Provenance: From the library of Warwick H. Williams.

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