THE STORY OF MONT BLANC

G.P. Putnam & Co, New York, 1853, First American Edition. Octavo, (X), 208 pages, engraved Frontispiece, engravings on Title Page and last page of text, lacks the numerous woodcut vignettes found in First U.K. Edition. Green cloth stamped outline boards, oval gilt-stamped image of mountaineers on front, with same image blind-stamped onto rear board cloth. Spine lettering gilt, slightly faded, lower spine has chipped remnant label, possibly from antique library, boards spotted - not affecting decoration, corners lightly bumped. Pages clean, showing text block somewhat damp-warped. Coffee stain uppermost top of gutter between Title & Frontispiece, not affecting text or images, but continuing, faded through following pages most of book. Attractive Bookplate on front pastedown, small hole outer middle of first free endpaper, despite faults, overall Very Good for scarce classic. (Neate S86) Albert Smith was a novelist-turned-travel-writer, and one of the greatest showmen of the 19th century. The 'Baron of Piccadilly' derived a lecture from his 1851 climb of Mont Blanc which ran for 2,000 performances at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly. He was instrumental in making Mont Blanc fashionable with a flamboyant lecture on fulfilment of his ambition. His outrageous caravan of four climbers employed 16 guides, 18 porters bringing provisions including 94 bottles of wine, four legs of mutton, four shoulders of mutton and 46 fowls. One of the founding members of the Alpine Club, Smith helped usher in the 'Golden Age' of Alpine Climbing. Scarce Classic, VG.