PAYOT (Venance). Guide-itinerary to Mont-Blanc, Chamonix and the neighbouring valleys. Genève, Ch. Gruaz et Chamonix chez l'auteur, 1857. In-12, bound in full havana morocco, fillet framed in cold on the boards, spine ribbed and decorated with gilt title, yellow printed covers preserved, in a bordered slipcase (Modern binding). First edition, illustrated with a fold-out table and a fold-out road map at the end of the volume. A good, well-documented guide. Contains information on the altitudes of the summits, the main glaciers, a list of travellers who have reached the summit of Mont-Blanc, guide regulations, etc. A fine copy of this early guide to the Chamonix valley, in its rare first edition. Venance Payot (Chamonix 1826 - 1902) was a Chamonix naturalist, guide, collector, scholar, publisher, merchant and local councillor: his many activities were all related to the fauna, flora and mineralogy of the Mont Blanc valley. He bequeathed his collections to the Annecy library.