THE MATTERHORN. With an Introduction by Edmondo de Amicis. Translated from the Italian by J. E. C. Eaton

First Edition, third impression. With Fine Provenance, a wonderful Association Copy being that of William Bellows with his notes and reminiscences to the free-fly, and with a fine photograph of Guido Rey taken by Bellows during a 1926 visit to Rey's villa. Illustrated with 14 two-colour plates and 23 pen and ink drawings by Edoardo Rubino, and with 11 photographs. The 14 plates tipped-in on heavy stock and produced in two colour as in the first issue, this is the last issue to be printed as such. Large, royal 8vo, publisher’s original dark-green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine and upper cover and blocked in blind. 336 pp. A very nice copy with essentially none of the common foxing or toning, the text and plates all very fresh and bright, the cloth and giltwork attractive and well preserved.

Edizione: the principal book on the early history of the matterhorn, and a copy with excellent provenance, a fine association copy. an inscription we remember on a copy sold long ago would serve as a fine invitation to any reader: "may we introduce to you a book all about one of your well beloved hills? therein, that venerable mountaineer poet, guido rey, pours out the worship of a lifetime, and in doing so reveals the true cervino--that immense, unsullied symbol of majestic grandeur. reverently, very reverently, he describes it as 'cathedral de dieu,' a truly wonderful phrase which cannot fail to stir the heart of any thinker. but you must read and see and, let us hope, enjoy."<br> rey taught mountaineering to the hugh de amicis and accented the matterhorn at least five times. these experiences first gave rise to several magazine articles and lectures, and finally to this book, first published in milan. the work boasts an introduction by edmondo de amicis, who was normally very reluctant to involve himself in other people's writing endeavors.<br> this copy has an original photograph of the author tipped onto the pastedown and with extensive notes by the owner of the book who visited with rey on a number of occasions.