A very desirable and scarce set! Himalayan Journals contain a wealth of information on expeditions and peaks in the Himalayas that has been published nowhere else, or here first. It is essential for a complete collection of Himalayan material. A fine collection of this distinguished journal. All volumes are in original wrappers. Includes indices. All issues are Very Good to Near Fine condition. Some older issues have worn spines.
This is a heavy set of books. Extra postage will be required for all methods of shipping.
The Himalayan Club was originally founded in 1927 and the aim of the club 'to encourage and assist Himalayan travel and exploration'. The first volume was published in April 1929. The volumes were then published annually until 1940. There was a six year gap during World War II. The journal re-started in 1946 and continues right up to the present day. Kenneth Mason, (1887-1976), the first editor, was one of the most renowned experts on Himalayan exploration of his generation. He was Superintendent of the Survey of India and he wrote 'Abode of Snow' 'the most authoritative one volume reference source on the historical and geographical background to the entire Himalayan range.' (Neate).
Includes many noteworthy articles by prominent explorers on recent expeditions, logistics of expeditions, natural history, sport, surveying, geology, etc., including Sir Aurel Stein, Frank Kingdon Ward, Hugh Ruttledge, H. W. Tilman, Eric Shipton, John Hunt, T. H. Somervell, Maurice Herzog, W. H. Murray, and Sir Edmund Hillary, among many, many others. Includes many obituaries, letters to the editor, club notices, book reviews, and pertinent advertisements
'Founded by a group of British officers, mountaineers, and naturalists in 1928, the Himalayan Club was a noted institution in British India that has lasted to this day. In 1927, Sir Geoffrey Corbett, a member of the Indian Civil Service, wrote a letter to 3 British officials with an interest in the Himalayas: Major Kenneth Mason of the Survey of India, Major General Walter Kirke (then acting as Chief of the General Staff), and Brigadier E. A. Tandy, Surveyor General of India. Corbett suggested founding a Himalayan Club, and the others supported the idea. Corbett then went ahead and contacted other leading officials, including the Viceroy, the Commander-in-Chief in India, and the Governor of the Punjab.
Meanwhile, Mason contacted Major E. O. Wheeler of the Survey of India and Captain J. G. Bruce of the Gurkhas. These men were the founding members of the Himalayan Club, as Corbett himself narrated the story (Himalayan Journal [HJ], Vol 1, 1929). The Himalayan Club was based on the model of the Alpine Club (founded in 1857 in London).
Its purpose was 'To encourage and assist Himalayan travel and exploration, and to extend knowledge of the Himalaya and adjoining mountain ranges through science, art, literature and sport.' The Club was officially inaugurated at a meeting at Army headquarters in Delhi on 17 February 1928. A year later, the Himalayan Club incorporated the Mountain Club of India, which had been formed in Calcutta in 1927-the year Corbett was preparing to found the Himalayan Club without knowing about the Calcutta venture. One of the main activities of the Himalayan Club has been the annual publication of the HJ since 1929. Kenneth Mason was its founding editor, serving from 1928 to 1940 (Vols 1-12).
' It had a string of great editors. Maj. Kenneth Mason of Survey of India was the first editor who produced HJ for 14 years. He set very high standards and when expeditions were few he gave a scholarly outlook to the publication. Mason set up a tradition that others continued. C.W.F. Noyce, H.W. Tobin, T.H. Braham and Dr. K. Biswas were some editors who followed.
Soli S. Mehta who took over editorship in 1967 brought fresh ideas and energies. He gave HJ a face lift and introduced many changes. Soli Mehta produced 11 issues before his untimely death in 1989. R. E. Hawkins was responsible for strengthening of HJ. As the Hon. Asst. Editor he set up editorial traditions and brought HJ in line with the other modern publications. Now a team of enthusiasts under editors Harish Kapadia and Monesh Devjani continue the HJ tradition' (Himalaya Club official website).
