1. VITTORIO SELLA. Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, c. 1879-1892, Sella number AIV 282. 11.2x15.0" collodion print, printed c. 1893, mounted on 16 1/2x12 1/4" heavy brown board. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: 282. Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, etc.; inscribed in blue pencil: A IV; Stamped in ink on mount verso: Depose / Tous Droits Reserves / V. Stella - Biella; Print recto embossed with artist's credit stamp in bottom right corner.

2. VITTORIO SELLA. Evolena Valley, Ferpecle Plateau, from near the summit of Dent d'Herens, 13,708 feet, c. 1879-1892, Sella number AIV 283. 11.3x15.0" collodion print, printed c. 1893, mounted on 16 1/2x12 1/4" heavy brown board. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: 283. Evolena Valley, Ferpecle Platrau, etc.; inscribed in blue pencil: A IV; Stamped in ink on mount verso: Depose / Tous Droits Reserves / V. Stella - Biella; Print recto embossed with artist's credit stamp in bottom right corner.

The Grand Combin is in the western Pennine Alps. At a height of 4,314 metres (14,154 ft) the summit of Combin de Grafeneire is one of the highest peaks in the Alps. and the second most prominent of the Pennine Alps. The Grand Combin is a large, glaciated massif consisting of several summits, among which three are above 4000 metres (Combin de Grafeneire 4,314 m (14,154 ft), Combin de Valsorey 4,183 m (13,724 ft), Combin de la Tsessette 4,134 m (13,563 ft)). The highest part of the massif is wholly in Switzerland, although the border with Italy lies a few kilometres south.

Ferpècle Glacier - The upper part of the relatively flat glacier field is also called Plateau d'Hérens and lies south-east of Evolène. The glacier is flanked by the Dent Blanche (4357m).

Vittorio Sella (1859-1943) began serious mountain climbing and photography when he was a teenager mastering the wet plate technique and making panoramas by 1880. By 1879 he began to use dry plates and in 1880 began a series of winter views in the Alps. Every holiday, summer and winter, Sella was in the nearby mountains, often carrying an old photographic apparatus that had belonged to his father.

These print sin this lot like hundreds of others were in many exhibitions and the prints suffered damage. Thus, these exhibition prints are being offered here at bargain prices.

1. 282 Good: Mild abrasions, scratches, wear, spots, corner wear and edge wear. Mount has edge and corner wear, missing corners and pieces, dirt and marks and is fragile.
2. 283 Good to Fair: Mild abrasions, scratches, wear, spots, corner wear and edge wear. There is a 4" scratch on upper L quadrant of print. Mount has edge and corner wear, missing corners and pieces, dirt and marks and is fragile.