LA CONQUISTA DEL K2

LA CONQUISTA DEL K2
SECONDA CIMA DEL MONDO
1954 FIRST EDITION
FIRST PRINTING
THE FIRST ASCENT OF K2

SIGNED BY ACHILLE COMPAGNONI, LINO LACEDELLI WITH K2 POSTCARD SIGNED BY ARDITO DESIO

This is the first printing of the first edition of LA CONQUISTA DEL K2 -- SECONDA CIMA DEL MONDO by Ardito Desio. It is the original first Italian edition with all text in Italian. The folding frontispiece photo of K2 has been hand-signed by Achille Compagnoni and by Lino Lacedelli, the two climbers who made the first ascent of K2 on this expedition. Items having both signatures together are quite uncommon. Very few joint gatherings and reunions were held for this expedition. Included with the book is a K2 postcard hand-signd (not printed) by Ardito Desio. Desio signed even fewer items than Lacedelli and Compagnoni. He signed a few postcards, but very few books, usually only for friends and colleagues. The card shows the 1954 K2 team at Base Camp. Some previous owner marked in red where Desio, Compagnoni, and Lacedelli are in the photo -- on the verso non-photo side of the card so that when you hold it to strong light you can see where the three are in the photograph. Other than those marks on the address side of the card, the card is in nice condition except for a small 5mm tear to the middle of the upper edge of the card. This book was published in 1954 by Garzotti in Milano. The book measures 219mm tall x 143mm, and has 250 pages, folding b/w photo frontispiece of K2, 2 other folding b/w photos, 70 b/w photos (on 52 plates) + 8 in-text route diagram b/w Ascent Of K2 (or Victory Over K2). Same size as the english-language editions but illustrated much better with more than twice the number of photo plates, plus color photos that are not in the english editions, and a folding map & 3 folding photos not in the english editions.

CONDITION: Original blue cloth, small gilt decoration on front of an ice-axe with flags on the summit, gilt lettering & gilt title block spine. The book is in generally nice condition with clean covers and bright gilt. Tiny spot of fading lower rear cover, tight binding, usual age-browning to margins of pages, no previous owner marks or writing on any pages, no foxing, original publisher's price sticker on rear pastedown. The original dust jacket has a 2cm x 1.5cm chip upper rear near spine (barely visible due to matching coloring put on the underlying jacket protector -- not on the jacket itself), some similarly disguised chips lower front spine edge, some wrinkles on upper rear panel, 6cm wrinkle line middle of front cover (not a tear), generally clean and presentable condition for a jacket that is usually found quite worn due to its very thin and fragile paper. Price: $1850.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE.
ALL PHOTOS ARE OF THE ACTUAL ITEM BEING OFFERED

WE NEVER USE STOCK PHOTOS