The Valley of Zermatt and the Matterhorn: A Guide

London: John Murray, 1897 . First edition. Leather. Good Only. 8" by 5.5". Not Stated. The scarce first edition of Edward Whymper's guide to Zermatt and the Matterhorn, profusely illustrated and with folding maps of the region. The scarce first edition of this work, in a signed morocco binding by Sizer.Illustrated with three folding maps and plans, and eighty vignette and full page illustrations. Collated, complete.Written by mountaineer, explorer and author Edward Whymper, best known as part of the team who ascended the Matterhorn in 1865. Whymper spent a lot of his time travelling and living in other countries, spending the last of his days in Chamonix. This work explores the history of Zermatt and the Matterhorn, an area along the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. Whymper relays the difficulties faced when climbing Mont Blanc, including the stories behind the crew-members who did not survive the expedition.With twenty-four pages of advertisements to the start of the work, and forty-four to the rear.The scarce first edition of this mountaineering work. In a full morocco signed binding by Sizer. Boards detached but present. Significant loss of leather to spine tail. Rubbing to back strip head and raised bands. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and generally clean, with instances of spotting. Good Only