TO THE TOP OF THE CONTINENT by FREDERICH COOK 1st edition $600

TO THE TOP OF THE CONTINENT
DISCOVERY, EXPLORATION AND ADVENTURE IN SUB-ARCTIC ALASKA. THE FIRST ASCENT OF MT MCKINLEY, 1903-1906
BY FREDERICK A. COOK, MD
1908 FIRST USA EDITION

THE FAMOUS HOAX -- BUT ALSO MUCH GENUINE PRIMARY EXPLORATION

This is the first USA edition of To The Top Of The Continent: Discovery, Exploration And Adventure In Sub-Arctic Alaska. The First Ascent Of Mt McKinley, 1903-1906 by Frederick A. Cook, MD. This book was published in New York by Doubleday, Page & Company in 1908. The book measures 236mm tall x 154mm, and has 321 pages, 71 b/w photos, 12 maps & diagrams (none of route), 4 appendices. Account of Cook’s attempts on Denali & his faked first ascent, probably the greatest exposed hoax in mountaineering history. Much of the content of this book is true. Had Cook not claimed the ascent of Denali, this account of exploration would have enhanced his reputation. This includes many interesting photos (not faked). In the acknowledgment, Cook thanks the Harper for use of the photos. Unfortunately for Cook, it is the use of those photos, namely the Summit photo, that exposed his fraud to those in the know. The photo in the book had been used in the preliminary magazine article describing the ascent. In that article the photo had been retouched so that background peaks did not show. When the same photo was used in the book, the photo was not retouched (see the picture of the Summit photo below). Two different versions of arguably the most important photo from the expedition created high suspicion against Cook's summit claim.

CONDITION: Original dark green cloth, white & grey decoration front cover, TEG, gilt lettering spine. Clean and bright, solid binding, much better than usual for this book, two previous owner names and dates 1908 and 1976 penned to blank free front endpage, Vernon Howard (renowned mountaineering bookseller) bookplate on same page, newspaper clipping about Cook being sentenced for fraud tipped to front pastedown, verso of front endpage has newspaper clippings of Cook's arrival in Copenhagen pasted to it and the next blank page has the end of the same article pasted to it. The title page has owner name penned to the top (same as the 1908 owner on the FFEP), no other marks or writing on any pages, no foxing, tight binding, exceptionally bright and clean covers, near Fine . Price: $600.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE.
ALL PHOTOS OF THE BOOK COVERS AND PRELIMINARY PAGES ARE OF THE ACTUAL ITEM BEING OFFERED

PHOTOS OF PHOTOS IN THE BOOK ARE FROM ANOTHER LISTING USED HERE TO SAVE WORK

book covers	title page	tipped in paper	front EPs
copyright	acknowledgment	fake summit photo	photo
photo	photo	photo	photo
photo

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