Dawn of Alpine mountaineering.- Deluc (Jean-André) & D[entand] (Pierre

Dawn of Alpine mountaineering.- D[eluc] (Jean-André) & D[entand] (Pierre Gédéon). Relation de différents voyages dans les Alpes du Faucigny, first edition, half-title, title with woodcut ornament, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, final 3 ff. blank, D1 fore-edge uncut, occasional light spotting, 19th century ?Scottish calf-backed speckled boards, gilt spine in compartments and with red morocco label, vellum-tipped corners, neat wear to head of spine, corners little worn, rubbed, [Perret 1271; Regard sur les Alpes 17; Meckly 116; Coolidge 51], large 12mo, Maastricht, J.E. Dufour & Ph. Roux, 1776 (bound after an unrelated 18th century French work). *** First edition of this account of the first high mountain ascent of Mount Buet in the Chablais Alps, Haute-Savoie, France. It recounts two unsuccessful attempts by the brothers Jean-André & Guillaume-Antoine Deluc in 1765 and 1770, and their successful attempt on 20th September, 1770. A number of meteorological and scientific experiments were conducted at high altitude, including with Pastor Pierre Dentand on another ascent in 1776. Provenance: Sir William Maxwell of Monreith (engraved armorial bookplate to front pastedown).

Estimate:$534.98

View all items fromForum AuctionsorBooks, Maps & Manuscripts