Travels Through the Alps of Savoy and Other Parts of the Pennine Chain with Observations on the Phenomena of Glaciers
Author(s):
Forbes, James, D.
Copyright: 1843, Adam & Charles Black, Edinburgh
Specifications: 1st, 4to, pp.x, 424, 4 pgs ads, color litho frontis, 1 color & 7 bw lithos, 9 color topo sketches, 2 maps (1 lg fldg), text illus, appendices, orig blindstamped green cloth w/ gilt lettered spine with a 3-pg contemporary hand-written note
Condition: cloth spine faded, sharp corners, front hinge starting, name of J. Ladd to fep, fldg map w/ orig folds & no tears, very good
Forbes was a Scottish physicist and glaciologist who made many observations and mountain expeditions in the Alps, Norway and Dauphiné. He visited Norway primarily for scientific research on glaciers. He wrote two books related to mountaineering, and over 100 papers on glaciers, which are the first English accounts of systematic Alpine exploration and description of various regions. This, his first book, is regarded as the most scientifically important of all books of Alpine travel. Included is a 3-page handwritten note, referencing page numbers within the text, discussing and calculating the necessity of ascending to Montanvert to obtain a true view of the Mer de Glace. It is possible this is in Forbes’ hand but was certainly written by one quite familiar with the area. From the collection of William S. Ladd with his son’s name in small print. Rare first edition with the folding map and a most interesting note.
Meckly 073, Neate F45, Perret 1707.
Ladd, William S., MD. (1887 – 1949) – AAC Councilor (1923-25), Vice-President (1926-28), President (1929-31), Honorary Member (1949) and member of the Alpine Club of Canada, the Alpine Club, and Club Alpin Francais (honorary). He started climbing at an early age with ascents of Mt. Hood (1904, 1905, 1911) and in the Canadian Rockies (1905). He made the first ascent of Mt. Saskatchewan, Canada, (1923, with Conrad Kain), attempted Mt. Fairweather (1926) and was a member of the first ascent team in 1931, and climbed in the Alps (1928). Ladd oversaw the participation and the founding of the Union International des Associations d’Alpinism (UIAA) and gave the gift of the AAC’s first clubhouse, an old fire station located on the upper East side of Manhattan. During his term the first American Alpine Journal was published (1929).
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