FRESHFIELD (Douglas William). The exploration of the Caucasus. London and New York, Arnold, 1896. 2 volumes in-4°, publisher's decorated cloth bindings. Precious first edition, illustrated with 2 title vignettes, 74 hors-texte plates and 3 folding panoramas, mostly based on photographs by Vittorio Sella, 4 folding maps (one canvas-backed in a pocket at the end of the 2nd volume) and vignettes in the text. A reference work on the Caucasus. An essential, much sought-after work, rare in its first edition (a second, more common edition was published in 1902). A good copy. D. W. Freshfield (London 1845 - Forest Row 1934) was an English barrister, mountaineer and writer. He was one of the great explorers of the world's mountains, particularly the Caucasus, where in 1868 he made the first ascent of Kazbeck (5030 m) and the north-west summit of Elbrus, which was only a few metres lower than the highest point climbed six years later by Gardiner; the two large volumes entitled The exploration of the Caucasus (1896) are a major work on the Caucasus, remarkably illustrated by the photographs of Vittorio Sella. In 1899, he led an expedition around Kangchenjunga in the Himalayas, described in Round Kangchenjunga (1903). He was usually accompanied by Chamonix guide François Devouassoud. Freshfield was president of the Alpine Club from 1893 to 1895. He was also a poet in his spare time, publishing several collections of poems: A tramp's wallet of alpine and roadside rhythms (1890, very rare), Unto the Hills (1914), and Quips for cranks and other trifles (1923). Vittorio Sella (Bielle 1859 - 1943), Italian mountaineer and photographer, was the nephew of Quintino Sella, statesman and founder of the Italian Alpine Club. He was a precursor of winter mountaineering: first winter traverse of the Matterhorn in 1882, Monte Rosa in 1884, Gran Paradiso and Lyskamm in 1885, Mont Blanc in 1888. He went on to take part in a large number of expeditions to mountains outside Europe. His talent as a photographer was exceptional; with the resources of the time, he built up a first-rate collection of photographs of the Alps, the Caucasus, Africa, Alaska and the Himalayas, accompanying the great expeditions of the Duke of Abbruzzi and Douglas Freshfield. His photographs have been used to illustrate numerous books on mountains and mountaineering. Perret, 4009 - Neate F 64