THE ASCENT OF EVEREST, SIGNED BY SIR EDMUND HILLARY AND 43 OTHER “EVERESTERS”

HUNT, John. The Ascent of Everest. (London): Hodder and Stoughton, (1953). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket; housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. $7500.

First edition, signed by Sir Edmund Hillary and 43 other Everest climbers on the half title, dedication and title pages. With eight color photographic plates, 48 half-tone plates and a number of in-text illustrations after pen-and-ink sketches.

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. Neate 393. In addition to Hillary, the book is signed by 43 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, Junko Tabei (first woman to climb Everest), Ed Viesturs (climbing leader for the filming of the IMAX Everest), and Jon Krakauer (author of Into Thin Air). With a guide to the signatures laid in.

Only minor wear to extremities of book and dust jacket, near-fine condition. An exceptional copy with a remarkable collection of signatures.