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14. Brockedon, William. Illustrations of the Passes of the Alps, by which Italy communicates with France, Switzerland, and Germany. London: Printed for the Author, 1828-1829.
£2,750
First edition, Large paper copy. 2 vols. Folio (45 x 31cm.). pp. [v], 14, 15, 16, 16, 16, 14, & [iv], 16, 12, 16, 16, 16, 28; 96 engravings on india paper, 13 maps, each plates bearing a blindstamp as issued with Brockedon’s initials; some foxing, occasionally heavy, armorial bookplate of “CG” and bookplate of Oscar V. Viney, still very good in contemporary (?original) cloth boards with leather lettering pieces to spine, some wear to extremities.
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Wäber 63; Neate B170; Perret 0723. Brockedon (1787-1854), an artist by training, first travelled through the Alps when he crossed the Simplon on his way to Italy. He returned to Switzerland and the Alps several times during the 1820s; by his own estimate he “had crossed the Alps nearly sixty times by thirty different routes” (ODNB). His travels provided subjects for his art, and resulted in his Illustrations of the Passes of the Alps. The work contains 12 sections, devoted to the description and illustration of the Small and Great St. Bernard, Montgenèvre, Mont Cenis, Saint Gothard, Stelvio, Corniche, Grimsel, San Bernadino, Spluger, Brenner, Tende, Argentière, and Simplon passes. Brockedon published the work in several formats, and according to the list provided by Neate this set conforms to the “Royal 4to proofs on India paper at 20 guineas”; however, in addition this is a large paper copy with wide margins, and larger than many copies usually offered.
Neate B192; Perret 0734. George Forrest Browne (1833-1930) followed a career in the Anglican Church, interspersing his official work with visits to the Alps. An early member of the Alpine Club, he served as president from 1904-6. His Recollections, though largely concerned with his career, contains a chapter on his mountaineering experiences, including details of his friendships with Edward Whymper and Charles Hudson (who died on the Matterhorn during the first ascent with Whymper).
16. Charpentier, Jean de. Essai sur les glaciers et sur le terrain erratique du bassin du Rhone. Lausanne: Marc Ducloux, 1841. £775
First edition. 8vo. pp. [iv], x, 362; folding partly hand-coloured engraved map, 8 lithographed plates, diagrams in the text; occasional light foxing, else very good in contemporary quarter sheep, slightly bumped to extremities.
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15. Browne, G. F. Recollections of a Bishop. London: Smith, Elder, & Co., 1915.
First edition. 8vo. pp. xi, 427, [8, ads.]; 4 plates; some heaving foxing, good in the original cloth, gilt, faded on spine.
£25
Norman 462; D.S.B. III, p. 211; Perret 0955. First edition of this pioneer work on glaciology. Although Louis Agassiz is usually credited with originating the theory of the Ice Age, the true progenitor of glacial geology was Charpentier (1786-1855), who began studying glaciers after the Glacier de Giétroz disaster of 1818, in which a lake dammed by the glacier burst through the ice. By studying the Rhone Valley and the huge blocks of granite scattered mysteriously throughout it from the Alps to the Jura, Charpentier confirmed the theory proposed in 1821 by his friend Venetz, that these so-called “erratic” (i.e. unconformable) blocks could only have been
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