London, Longmans, Green and Co, 1875, 1st edition. 341 pp. Illustrated with 6 full page plates including frontispiece, vignette to title page, marbled end papers and folding map. Top edge is gilt (TEG). Half leather hardcover with marbled boards, gilt titles on raised band spine. No foxing (just the front and rear endpaper are foxed), no writing, stains, bookplates, a really clean copy. Exterior is quite handsome, as leather books usually are, the book has minor shelf wear, otherwise a nice copy. Near Fine overall.
This is a Seven Summit first ascent book. In 1874 the team climbed the west summit of Mount Elbrus, (5,642m, 18,510 ft). The first ascent was led by Grove, with Frederick Gardner, Horace Walker, their guides Peter Knubel and Ahiya Sottaiev. The west summit is forty metres higher than the east summit.
Illustrated with engravings by the famous climber and artist Edward Whymper, from photographs taken by H. Walker during the journey. Includes the primary account of the first ascent in 1874 of Elbruz’s (highest) Western Peak; by a party comprising the author, F. Gardiner, H. Walker and the Swiss guide Peter Knubel. A.W. Moore also accompanied them on their trek through the Western Caucasus.
Grove was one of the ablest British climbers of the day and president of the Alpine Club, 1884-6. He also led the condemnation of guideless climbing in the 1870s, against the Rev. Girdlestone. This work is the first edition of his account of climbing in the Caucasus, and is the account of the first ascent of Elbrus, one of the world's 'seven Summits' as the highest point in Europe.
Chapters cover the Upper Rion, the valley of the Upper Tcherek, Bezingi and the Kotchan Tau Group, Tchegem and the Gorge of the Djilki-Su, Urusbieh, the ascent of Elbruz, and the Nakhar Pass.
