[Photobooks] The Oberland and its Glaciers: Explored and Illustrated with Ice-Axe and Camera

London: Alfred W. Bennett A. W., 1866. First Edition. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine+. First Edition of this foundation work on the glaciers of the Swiss Alps, and one of the earliest books illustrated with original photographs. Royal 8vo (267 x 209mm): xii,243,[1]pp, with 28 albumen silver prints by Ernest Edwards, including frontispiece and title vignette (eleven of which are full-page, with tissue guards, mounted on separate leaves), and double-page lithographed map of the Oberland. Publisher's green pebbled cloth (also issued in maroon and blue cloth), spine ruled and lettered in gilt, sides paneled in blind, front cover framed and lettered in gilt with central gilt motif of ice-axe and camera, beveled boards, all edges gilt. An excellent example (light, occasional spotting, more so to first few pages), tightly bound in original decorative cloth and generally clean throughout. Gernsheim 327. Neate G13 ("prized for its illustrations"). Boni, p. 143. Truthful Lens 74. Perret, p. 235. George was editor of the Alpine Journal and one of the greatest English mountaineers. He made the first ascents of the Great Viescherhorn and of the Jungfrau from Wengeralp. Edwards's seven-page "Notes by the Photographer" (p. 237-243) describes the difficulty of making wet-collodion photographs under field conditions. He is thought to be the best of the early amateur Alpine photographers. N. B. With few exceptions (always identified), we only stock books in exceptional condition, carefully preserved in archival, removable mylar sleeves. All orders are packaged with care and posted promptly. Satisfaction guaranteed. (Fine Editions Ltd is a member of the Independent Online Booksellers Association, and we subscribe to its codes of ethics.).