SIGNED BY SIR EDMUND HILLARY AND 38 OTHER “EVERESTERS”

HUNT, John. The Ascent of Everest. (London): Hodder and Stoughton, (1953). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box.

First edition, signed by Sir Edmund Hillary and 38 other Everest climbers on the half title, dedication and title pages, including Doug Scott, Jim Whittaker, the first American to climb Everest, Sharon Wood, the first North American woman to climb Everest, Babu Chirri Sherpa, ten-time summitter, and other preeminent "Everesters," with eight color photographic plates, 48 half-tone plates, and numerous in-text illustrations after pen-and-ink sketches, in original dust jacket.

The 1953 British Expedition to Mount Everest was the eighth in 30 years to attempt Everest. On May 29th, 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay at last stood at the summit; it was a culminating moment in mountaineering history, and one of the great achievements of human stamina and will. The Ascent of Everest was written in one month by Sir John Hunt, the leader of the expedition, in order to satisfy the immediate demand around the world for the story of the British team's success. Chapter 16 is Sir Edmund Hillary's stirring account of the final part of the climb, and the appendices are by members of the expedition. In addition to Hillary, the book is signed by 38 others, including: Jim Whittaker (first American to climb Everest); Reinhold Messner (first to climb Everest without supplemental oxygen); Sharon Wood (first North American woman to climb Everest); Pat Morrow (arguably the first person to climb the "Seven Summits"); Maurice Herzog (first to climb Annapurna); David Breashears, the first American to summit Everest twice as well as co-director and photographer of the IMAX movie Everest; Babu Chirri Sherpa (10 time summitter and former record-holder for fastest ascent of Everest, 16 hours 56 minutes from base camp to summit; current record holder for most time spent at the summit: 21 hours); Sir Chris Bonington (first to ascend Everest's sister-peak, Nuptse); Austrian Kurt Diemberger (climber of six 8000 meter peaks, including two first ascents); and Jon Krakauer (author of Into Thin Air). Contemporary owner inscription dated the year of publication. This copy with a laid-in four-page key to the signatures.

Interior fresh with inner paper hinges starting but very sound, mild edge-wear to cloth; light edge-wear, small closed tear to lower front panel of bright price-clipped dust jacket. An exceptional copy with a remarkable collection of signatures.