David Bogue, London, 1853, First U.K. Edition. Octavo, blind and gilt stamped orange cloth, (Xii), 219 pages, 8 pages adverts - last unopened, hand-coloured engraved Frontispiece, many woodcut vignettes throughout text. A little worn, gilt decorated spine discoloured, slight wear to head & tail, corners bumped, blind-stamped boards slightly soiled, minor spots and stains on first seven pages, rear gutter starting, slight cant, interior shows damp warping, yet clean without foxing. (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. Rare Classic, VG-.
