One Videos. In 1986 VHS and Beta Videos were starting to be a major force in personal home entertainment. So we quickly jumped in a found some excellent films, especially by Leo Dickinson. Leo was already selling films in America, but stocking a few in a climbing shop was not working for him. We were able to sell dozens, even hundreds, of films that maybe we had heard about, but there was no way to access them. 

Also, we had been buying antiquarian Maps, usually 19th century, some earlier. One feature on old maps that often got special treatment was mountains (and rivers and lakes and islands.) Many 18th and 19th century Atlases had charts that compared the heights of mountains, and they were usually quite decorative. 

I remember the first time I saw on of these Comparative Heights Charts. It appalled me. They got it all wrong!  They altitudes were wrong, the peaks they called the highest were wrong. I wouldn't go near them. Later my eyes were opened and I realized how wonderful they were.  It took five centuries for the world to be properly ''discovered'', and mapped. Starting with Columbus in 1492, five hundred years later, during my parent's lifetime, nobody knew for certain which mountains were the highest. Or what was in Africa other than along its rivers and coasts. If you think the way our leaders handle things today is screwed up, take a look at those 500 years, 1500 to 1900. Discovery was all about finding gold and saving souls. If they didn't want to be saved, burn them to death.

I am writing this in March 2022. Russia has just invaded Ukraine. Why?  For the imagined wealth and glory of Russia! Nobody else counts. They guys with the tanks make the rules about borders.