The Alpine Career (1868-1914) of Frederick Gardiner (First Edition)

First Edition, one of 50 copies made. Printed for Private Circulation, 1820. 8vo. Original green paper wrappers bound into quarter black morocco and marbled board hardcover. [ii], 75pp.

Retains original publisher's paper wrappers inside hardcover binding. Quarter black morocco and marbled paper boards. Leather margins ruled in blind. Gilt titling to spine. Marbled endpapers. Near fine in good hardcover binding. Binding sound, square and tight. Rubbing and wear to edges of leader and spine creases. Spine rubbed with some loss to titling gilt. Wearing at head of spine. Softcover wrappers fine, no markings or fading. Contents near fine, complete and nearly free of imperfection. Some very mild toning and spotting at edges and along foredge. Two inscriptions to title, one in pencil and another in ink. Ink stamp to upper title. Some sporadic and small pencil markings here and there.

Gardiner was a Liverpool ship owner who advocated guideless climbing in the Alps. He made his first guideless ascent of the Meije in1879 with the Pilkingtons. He also pioneered climbing in the Caucasus, making the first successful ascent of Mount Elbrus with Horace Walker and F. C. Grove, guided by Peter Knubel. He was president of the Alpine Club from 1896-1898.

Provenance: From the library of Warwick H. Williams.

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