The Central Tian-Shan Mountains 1902-1903 --- FIRST EDITION 1905

Merzbacher, Dr. Gottfried

Published by E. P. Dutton and Company, New York, 1905

About this Item

1905 FIRST PRINTING of First USA Edition. Original dark navy cloth, gilt lettering cover & spine, gilt on top edge of text block, bottom & fore-edge of text block untrimmed as issued. Much better than average condition example of this important, scarce book. This example is from the collection of Prof. Larry Swan who was himself an explorer/pioneer climber in the Himalaya. Swan was a member of the 1954 USA expedition that attempted to climb Makalu. A biologist and polymath, he contributed several scientific papers to the study of Himalayan natural history. The book has clean covers with normal slight darkening to spine, Swan's name and address are penned on the corner of the FFEP and a penned title in Swan's hand is on the blank verso of the folding rear map titling it "Central Tian Shan Merzbacher" -- otherwise, there are no previous owner's names/marks or writing on any pages. The book has bright gilt and no fading to the covers. There is a very faint 2cm wide drop mark on the front cover that is hard to detect without raking light (basically some loss of cover sheen at the spot = no discoloration). The binding is solid (nothing loose or shaken), no foxing. There is tanning to frontispiece tissue guard with minor transfer tanning to the title page. Very light rubbing to cover edges without rub-through of the cloth (= just loss of coloring, no loss of cloth). Overall, a collectible condition example of this rare book. The book measures 229mm tall x 145mm, and has 285 pages, 20 b/w photos, folding map, index PHOTOS ARE OF THE ACTUAL BOOK BEING OFFERED. Seller Inventory # 003009

Bibliographic Details

Title: The Central Tian-Shan Mountains 1902-1903 --...

Publisher: E. P. Dutton and Company, New York

Publication Date: 1905

Binding: Hardcover

Condition: Very Good

Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket

Edition: First Edition