The Karakorams and Kashmir (Rare First Edition)

Extremely rare first edition.

First Edition. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1896. 8vo. Original vertically-grained red publisher's cloth. Pages: xvi, 253.

Bound in original vertically-grained red publisher's cloth. Titling to cover and spine in gilt. Illustrated vignette with blind margins on cover. All edges uncut. Very good. Some rubbing to covers, edges, and corners. A touch of wear to spine creases. Contents overall clean and fresh.

Eckenstein joined Sir Martin Conway's expedition to the Karakoram in 1892, together with C.G. Bruce, Mattias Zurbiggen, the artist A.D. McCormick, and J.H. Roudebush. Due to internal disagreements, Eckenstein left the expedition before it culminated. This work details Eckenstein's experiences during the expedition, from April to August of '92. An account was also published by Conway, however Eckenstein's remains the far scarcer of the two volumes.

Eckenstein was an innovator in developing both climbing technique and equipment - he was the inventor of the modern crampon, for instance. He was also a bouldering pioneer; in Kashmir, he conducted bouldering competitions for locals, perhaps the first example of what have become a common phenomenon. 

After the Karakoram Expedition detailed within this volume, Eckenstein would go on to lead the first serious attempt to ascent K2 in 1902.

Full title: The Karakorams and Kashmir. An account of a journey.

Provenance: From the library of Warwick H. Williams.

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