Lot 40
  • 40

Windham, William and Pierre Martel

Estimate
4,000 - 6,000 GBP
Log in to view results
bidding is closed

Description

  • An Account of the Glacieres or Ice Alps in Savoy, in Two Letters, One from an English Gentleman to his Friend at Geneva; the other from Peter Martel, Engineer, to the said English Gentleman. Illustrated with a map, and two views of the place. London: for Peter Martel, 1744
  • book
FIRST EDITION, 4to (280 x 210mm.), 2 folding etched plates, ORIGINAL STITCHED BLUE WRAPPERS, UNCUT, preserved in a later chemise and slipcase, some wear and loss to wrappers

Provenance

Thomas Hamilton, 7th Earl of Haddington (1721-1794), who travelled widely on the Continent, residing at Rome and later Geneva; by descent to the 12th Earl of Haddington, his sale in these rooms 2 July 1968, lot 198 (part)

Literature

Meckly 222 ("the cornerstone for a Mont Blanc collection"); Neate W109; Perret 2836

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

AN IMPORTANT ASSOCIATION COPY. From the library of Thomas Hamilton, 7th Earl of Haddington (1721-1794), who accompanied Windham from Geneva in 1741 and is mentioned in the footnote to page 2. The second plate in this work includes THE FIRST APPEARANCE ON A MAP OF THE NAME MONT BLANC. The reports by Windham and Martel delivered to the Royal Society in London drew wider attention to the region around Chamonix. Martel (1706-1767) was a Swiss engineer and geographer, who visited the valley of Chamonix in the Alps of Savoy in 1742, inspired by an earlier visit by Windham.