HUNT, John. The Ascent of Everest (Signed first edition)

London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1953. First Edition. 8vo. Pp. [xvi], 300+ (including photographic plates). Original blue cloth, spine lettered in gilt, in the original pictorial dust jacket featuring a line drawing of Everest in gilt on pale blue ground. Illustrated with numerous photographic plates (both colour and black & white), many taken during the 1953 British Everest Expedition. A very good copy in very good dust jacket. Cloth clean and firm; minor softening at spine ends. Some light foxing to endpapers. Jacket with light wear at extremities and mild creasing; overall bright and attractive.

Signed by Brigadier Sir John Hunt on the title page in blue ink.

The official account of the 1953 British expedition, which achieved the first confirmed ascent of Mount Everest, led by Hunt and culminating in the historic summit by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on 29 May 1953. Published within months of the achievement, this volume quickly became one of the classic narratives of twentieth-century exploration.

Signed copies by Hunt are considerably scarcer than unsigned examples and are highly desirable in the mountaineering market, particularly in first edition state and retaining the original dust jacket. A cornerstone Everest title, enhanced by the author’s signature.

[WR expedition]