BOURRIT (Marc-Théodore). Nouvelle description générale et particulière des glacières, Vallées de Glace et glaciers de Savoye, qui forment la grande chaîne des Alpes de Suisse, d'Italie et de Savoye. Genève, Barde & Manget and Paris, Buisson, 1787. 3 volumes in-8°, bound in half basane with corners, smooth spines decorated with fillets, title-pieces (early 19th century bindings). Second edition of volume 1 and third edition of volumes 2 and 3, illustrated with a folding map and 13 plates hors-texte, after drawings by the author: 1 map and 5 views in volume 1, 4 views in volume 2, and 4 views in volume 3. This work is a new collective edition of the "Nouvelle description des glacieres et glaciers de Savoye" of 1785 (1 vol.) and the "Description des Alpes Pennines et Rhétiennes" of 1781 (2 vol.). This is the first printing of this edition; a second, slightly different edition was produced in the same year. In this work, Bourrit recounts his excursions in the Valais, where he was one of the first to explore the glaciers, as well as his attempts to climb Mont Blanc. It is interesting to note that in this edition, published in 1787, Bourrit makes no mention of the first ascent of Mont Blanc by Paccard and Balmat the previous year. Light angular spotting on the last pages of volume I, otherwise a good copy of this sought-after work. Bourrit (Geneva 1739 - Lancy 1819), of modest origins, was the cantor of Geneva Cathedral. He devoted much of his life to exploring the Alps, particularly the Chamonix valley. He published numerous volumes on the Alps, which he illustrated himself and which did much to raise their profile among the leading figures of the day. Unlike Saussure, he never reached the summit of Mont-Blanc, despite numerous attempts, and he always felt frustrated. Perret, 0660 - Meckly 026 (who cites only the first edition of the last two volumes) - Coolidge 57 (who cites the 1785 edition) - Rean pp. 31-32 (vol. 1) - Nava B/3