VITTORIO SELLA. Grand Combin and Mont Velan, from the Orny hut (1531); Val Ferret (in the background, Grivola and Grand Paradis), from the Orny hut (1532), c. 1879-1892, Sella numbers AIV 1531, 1532. 11.2x28.7" collodion print, printed c. 1893, mounted on 29 3/4x12 1/8" brown board.

1. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: 1531. Grand Combin and Mont Velan; Stamped in ink on mount verso: Depose / Tous Droits Reserves / V. Stella - Biella; inscribed in pencil on mount verso: 1531-1532; inscribed in ink on mount verso: Alps/ Cabane d'Orny.
2. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: 1532. Val Ferrert, (in the background, Grinola and Grand Paradis.); inscribed in pencil on mount recto: AIV; Print recto embossed with artist's credit stamp in bottom right corner; inscribed in pencil on mount verso: A IV 1531-1532.

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.

Mont Velan is a in the Pennine Alps on the Swiss Italian border. At 3,727, metres Mont Velan is the highest summit lying between the Great St Bernard pass and Grand Combin. Two large glaciers cover its northern flanks: Glacier de Tseudet (west) and Glacier de Valsoray (east). The Glacier de Proz, lying on the west side, was traversed during the first ascent.

Sella created the greatest exhibition of his career, the February 1893 Geographical Exhibition of Turin, where his prints won the Grand Gold Medal and Diploma of Honour. The exhibition was organized around his photo-essays of geographic sub-regions. The first eleven sections featured topographic views of the Alps, the twelfth section was on Mt. Etna, and the thirteenth and fourteenth sections contained ethnographic and topographic views of the Caucasus. From Turin the exhibition traveled to Boston where it was exhibited and purchased by the Appalachian Mountain club. After being exhibited at the AMC and the Boston Arts Club in 1893, the prints traveled to New England and for the next 12 years circulated in various forms throughout the United States. In 1897, Sella, on his way to Alaska, saw an exhibition of his prints in Portland hosted by the Mazamas Club. After 1910 the prints were exhibited only sporadically. This lot is an original exhibition print.

Good: Moderate wear, dirt, abrasions, scratches and spots, prints abraded and lifting where panels meet, 1531 has vertical abrasion which caused loss of emulsion along length of left side of print. Mounts have corner and edge wear, tears, marks and dirt.