COLEMAN (Edmund Thomas). Scenes from the snowfields: being illustrations of the upper ice-world of Mont Blanc, from sketches made on the spot in the years 1855, 1856, 1857, 1858; with historical and descriptive remarks, and a comparison of the Chamonix and St. Gervais routes. London, Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans and Roberts, 1859. In-folio, publisher's full cloth binding, cold-stamped decoration on covers, gilt title on first cover (headpieces dulled, some rubbing and soiling). First edition of this superb album, illustrated with nineteen colour lithographed views on twelve plates, nine of which are full-page. The author's views are of a high artistic quality, with very well rendered shades of colour. The text accompanying these plates is very interesting and well documented. The author compares the routes to Mont Blanc from Chamonix and Saint-Gervais, and describes the passage over the Col de Miage and the ascent of the Aiguille de Miage. Bookplate of the Oxford Public Library pasted on the flyleaf. Some foxing to the text, but the plates are very fresh. A good copy. Edmund Thomas Coleman (Bitteswell 1824 - London 1892), an English painter and mountaineer, was the first "tourist" to climb Mont Blanc via two different routes (the Chamonix route in 1855 and the St. Gervais route the following year). He was a founder member of the Alpine Club. In 1858, he made the first ascent of the Dôme de Miage. He then emigrated to British Columbia, became a librarian in Victoria and explored the Cascade Range, where a glacier bears his name. In 1868 he made the first ascent of Mt Baker (3,285 m). He published several books on the mountains of the West Coast. Perret, 1051 - Regards sur les Alpes 70 - Meckly 052 - Neate C92 - Abbey 68 - Coolidge 186 - Rean pp. 135-136 - Nava K1