Full Title:
KARAKORAM AND WESTERN HIMALAYA 1909: AN ACCOUNT OF THE EXPEDITION OF H.R.H. PRINCE LUIGI AMEDEO OF SAVOY, DUKE OF THE ABRUZZI. TWO VOLUMES.
This is a handsome example of a book that truly celebrates the Golden Age of Himalayan Mountaineering. For many collectors this is the crown jewel of books on the 8000 meter peaks. Considered by many to be the most sought after book on mountaineering.
London, Constable, 1912, 1st UK edition. 469 pp, 36 plates, including 2nd volume of plates, panoramas and maps, photos by Vittorio Sella. Hardcovers in their original red cloth, with a much finer cloth used on the spine than on the boards. A Gold stripe adorns the area where the two cloths meet.
Condition:
Both volumes have slight edge wear, no foxing, spines are faded, there may be some exterior soiling, gold letters are still bright, binding is tight, a very handsome copy. This set has been traveling. Two previous booksellers left either a rubber stamp mark (RSM) or a small label on the inside corner of Volume 1. The first bookseller was Grenich Agencies in Karachi, Pakistan*. The later bookseller is Isseido in Tokyo, Japan. Both volumes are complete and handsome so we rate them Near Fine.
In 1912 Karachi Pakistan was in the colony called British India. This was the high water mark of the Brtish Empire.
These books are heavy and large format so extra postage will be requested for Media Mail, Priority Mail or International Mail. It weighs about 5 pounds.
The Duke made an attempt on K2 in May 1909, accompanied by guides and porters from Courmayeur, Italy, the Italian side of Mont Blanc. They reached 6250m on the SE or Abruzzi Ridge but were turned back by the difficulty of the route. The expedition explored, mapped and photographed the Baltoro Glacier area. This route has now become the standard route taken by most parties. There is no easy way up K2.
