BRITISH MOUNTAINEERS.[BRITAIN IN PICTURES No. 22.]

K,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.[One of only 22 titles published in this year, for this series.] NFINE/FINE Neat,inked previous owners' (2) inscrptns to ffe,but no clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,pale green background with 3 white line-bordered edges with white lettering and white ice pick+bundled rope design illustrated front panel of dw/dj; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no major nicks or tears present.Slight darkening of spine/backstrip and some miniscule rubbing to both head+ foot of spine/backstrip of dw/dj.Remarkable condition of both dw/dj and book,considering the fragility of the wartime economy standards paper used.Top edges slightly dust-soiled with light ageing/toning,fore-edges brighter and much cleaner; contents bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners,appears unread - apart from my own collation.Front panel of dw/dj design repeated to front paper-covered card covers,rear cover plain pale green with 3 white line-bordered edges and dw/dj's rear panel containing publisher's advert for other titles in the series,and white ink printed letters to spine/backstrip,free endpapers with NO offset foxing from dw/dj inner flaps.UK,slim 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,7-47pp [paginated] printed on Mellomex Book paper and includes I-VII chapters,8 colour plates,24 b/w illustrations - all illustrations within the text,plus [unpaginated] half-title+ title pages,colour+b/w illus lists/tables with a short bibliography included too.
'Britain in Pictures' (BIP) a comprehensive series of illustrated books devoted to the life,art,institutions and achievements of the British.The majority of the titles,113 of 126 are under the banner of 'The British People in Pictures' series,plus 7 'British Commonwealth in Pictures' titles and a further 6 titles under the 'English Poets in Pictures' imprint - 6 further titles of the 132 listed,were never published.
The earliest titles in the series were not numbered,although numbers were eventually added to the jacket spine (but not on the books themselves).Original price was 3/6 (later increased to 4/6,and then 5/-),and a normal print run averaging between 20,000 to 30,000 copies.
Mountaineering is a sport which makes a particular appeal to our national temperament.It not only furnishes a supreme test of physical prowess but more than any other sport calls forth the qualities of high courage and daring that are inherent in our race.Mr F. S. Smythe here tells the story of the sport of mountaineering from the early days of the Alpine Club.He describes the sensation caused by Albert Smith's ascent of Mont Blanc and tells the fascinating story of the conquest of the Matterhorn in 1865 by Whymper and Hudson,a short-lived triumph ending in disaster.Mr Smythe describes the magnificent climbing now to be found in the British Dominions and Colonies,and his accounts of the latest Himalayan expeditions,in almost all of which he himself took part, brings this book up to the present day.Mr F. S. Smythe is well known as the conqueror of Mount Kamet,and was a member of the three Mount Everest expeditions in 1933,1936 and 1938.In addition to the Himalayas he has made many climps in the Alps. Since April 2013,again in March 2015,and in this year too,the UK Post Office has altered it's Pricing in Proportion template,altering it's prices, weight allowances,dimensions and lowered it's qualifying compensation rates too!
So,please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,because of the lighter weight of this item for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!