MOUNTAINEER

The 12mo letter has been cut into two sections, both laid down on a piece of mustard paper, with typed caption. Good, on lightly-aged paper. The body of the letter is on a piece of paper roughly 11 cm square. Six lines of text, enclosing 'autograph & quotation' (not present), and apologising for having 'no photo available'. 'Glad you enjoy my books, & thanks for your good wishes'. The smaller piece, with letterhead and Styles's dating, is roughly 8.5 x 3.5 cm.

12mo, 2 pp. Good, on lightly creased paper. Lists four books about the 1924 Everest expedition. Suggests that the recipient 'ask the librarian of the Alpine Club, 74 South Audley Street London W.1. for the name of the bookseller who specializes in second-hand mountaineering literature'.

12mo, 2 pp. good, on aged paper, but with slight damage along the inner edge as a result of removal from stub. Text entirely legible. Docketed 'Professor Tyndall' in a contemporary hand at foot of second page. He wishes he 'could respond to half the invitations for which I am indebted to the kind acts of my friends'. The 'duties now pressing' on him 'render this literally impossible'. 'All I can do under the circumstances is to wish success to your young society'.

12mo bifolium: 1 p. 11 lines of text. Address and docketing on second leaf. Good, but with 1 cm hole in first leaf of bifolium, possibly caused by breaking open of blue wafer, which still adheres. Hole causing loss to two words, including latter part of signature. Asks the recipient 'de remettre a Mr. Pousin conducteur des ponts et chaussees, un double demi metre en Cuivre et un metre en cuivre avec quatre petites roulettes pointilles'. He will pay for the order in a few days time.

Octavo: 9 pp. Stitched. In original grey printed wraps. Good. Inscribed by the author to the embryologist Sir Gavin de Beer ('For Mr. G. S. de Beer [sic] With my best wishes C. E. Engel'), author of 'Early Travellers in the Alps' (1930). The article describes the correspondence amassed by Sherwill (a friend of William Upcott) relating to his ascent of Mont Blanc in 1825, quoting from letters of Catharine Hutton, Charles Fellows, Edward Bootle Wilbraham, Martin Barry and Comte Henri de Tilly. 'In 1840 he presented it to the Bibliotheque Royale de France.

Botanist and mountaineer (1865-1944). 1 page, 16mo. Grubby and discoloured, with crease in top right-hand corner, and remains of stub adhering to otherwise-blank reverse. The recipient, Sir W. T. Thiselton-Dyer (1843-1928; DNB), was Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, 1885-1905, and the letter is stamped 'ROYAL GARDENS | KEW | 6 - DEC. 1904'. Letter reads: 'The Dinner is now definitely fixed for 7.30 at the Monico. It is with very great pleasure that we look forward to welcoming you.' Signed 'J. B. Farmer'.