CARREL (Georges). The Valtornenche valley in 1867. Turin, Cassone, 1868. In-8°, paperback, printed cover. First edition, very rare copy in large paper, illustrated with a map and 5 lithographed hors-texte plates, reprinted from Bollettino del CAI, no. 12. This is the first guide to the Italian Matterhorn valley. The views show Châtillon, Valtournenche, Breuil, the Matterhorn and the Valtournenche guides (Joseph Maquignaz, Jean-Antoine Carrel, Pierre Maquignaz and Jean-Baptiste Bich). The author comments on the first ascent of the Matterhorn and the accident that followed: "Mr Whymper had the glory of being the first to reach the Matterhorn. It is to be regretted that this misfortune did not allow him to savour all the joy he should have experienced. The reports of this disaster have been severely criticised by the press. I will refrain from making any judgement in this regard. It seems to me that this ascent was organised and executed too hastily for it to have been a happy one. The responsibility for the misfortune lies with everyone; there were more travellers than guides. In such circumstances, you usually need two good guides for each traveller". He does not spare Whymper who, "in 1862 ... had already made several attempts; but, more daring than prudent, having one day wished to venture alone up the sides of this pyramid, almost perished at the Col du Lion, and returned quite dead to the hotel at Giomen". Enclosed: Souvenir de l'inauguration du monument élevé à la mémoire du chanoine Georges Carrel. Aoste, L. Mensio, 1876. In-8°, paperback, printed yellow cover (ink stains on the cover, probably from the handwritten ex-libris in the upper right-hand corner). Evocation of Canon Georges Carrel. Georges Carrel (Châtillon 1800 - Aoste 1870), from Valtournanche, was ordained a priest in 1826. He taught natural sciences in Aosta, and played a key role in mobilising the mountaineers of "his" valley to conquer the Matterhorn, so convinced was he that the first ascent from Le Breuil would bring a tourist windfall to the image of Mont Blanc in Chamonix. He ended his ecclesiastical career as canon prior of the Collegiate Church of Saint-Ours in Aosta. He was also a skilled draughtsman. Perret, 0842 (who does not mention large paper copies) - Regards sur les Alpes 87 - Peyrot I-325 - CAI p. 23 - CAS p. 415 - Not in ACL