La Conquista Del K2. Seconda Cima Del Mondo -- First Printing of Victory Over K2 (USA) & Ascent Of K2 (UK) -- SIGNED By 11 Team Members

Milano: Garzotti, 1954. First Edition . Hardcover. Near Fine/Good. FIRST PRINTING of the First Edition. With SIGNED postcard showing the 1954 team at the K2 Base Camp. The card is hand-signed (not printed or reproduced, ie, the signatures are original) by Walter Bonatti, Achille Compagnoni, Lino Lacedelli, Pino Gallotti, Gino Solda, Guido Pagani, Cirillo Floreanini, Ubaldo Rey, Erich Abram, Ugo Angelino, and Sergio Viotto. It is dated 20 October 1954, with the stamps being cancelled on the same date. Signed by 11 of the 14 Italian members of the climbing team. Lacking the signatures of Ardito Desio (he did not sign much), Mario Fantin, and Mario Puchoz (who died on the mountain). This is the first printing of the first Italian edition of Ascent Of K2 (or Victory Over K2). Same size as the english language editions but much better illustrated having more than twice the number of photo plates, color photos not in english editions, a folding map & 3 folding photos not in the english editions.. Original blue cloth with gilt decoration front and gilt lettering spine. The book measures 219mm tall x 143mm, and has 250 pages, a folding b/w photo frontispiece of K2, 2 other folding b/w photos, 70 b/w photos (on 52 plates) + 8 in-text route diagram b/w photos, 16 color photos (on 16 plates), 3 full page maps (glaciers & water in light blue), 1 folding map at rear (glaciers in light blue, route in red), and 1 chart. CONDITION: the postcard is in nice condition with all signatures in clear ink. The book is in better than average condition with no foxing, no previous owner marks or writing on any pages, clean, tight binding. NOTE: the blindstamp on the title page is not a library mark. Most books published in Italy at the time all had such a stamp put on the title page. I think it certified that the book was produced using union labor. This is not an ex-library book. The original dust jacket, produced on thin & flimsy paper, has some loss at spine corners and rubbing at edges. PHOTOS ARE OF THE ACTUAL ITEM BEING OFFERED.