BEER (Gavin Rylands de). Collection of articles on Switzerland and the Alps. 15 volumes in-8°, bound in green cloth, gilt titles on spine (first 6 volumes) and brown cloth, gilt titles and tomaison on spine (last 9 volumes), spotted edges. The covers are usually preserved. (Period bindings). The first 6 volumes contain offprints of Gavin de Beer's publications. The articles concern the first scientists and explorers of the Swiss Alps, the first ascent of Mont Blanc and the history of its altitude, etc. They were published in the Notes and records of the Royal Society of London, Annals of Science, Les Alpes, the Alpine Journal, etc. One volume is mainly devoted to Voltaire's British visitors, another to Rousseau's stay in England. The following 9 volumes contain articles on Switzerland and the Alps that Gavin de Beer had bound for his library. Volume 1 is devoted to glaciers. Volume 4 contains Paul Payot's lecture "Ruskin et les anglais à Chamonix", Bonneville, 1938, printed in an edition of 50 numbered copies (no. 5, with an autograph letter from the author). Many letters from the authors to Gavin de Beer. Numerous illustrations, photographs, hors-texte maps, etc. Sir Gavin Rylands de Beer (Malden 1899 - Alfriston 1972) was an English evolutionary biologist specialising in embryology. He was Director of the Natural History Museum in London and President of the London Linnaean Society (1946-1949); he was a specialist in early travel to Switzerland and the history of Mont Blanc. Exceptional documentation, of fine provenance.