VITTORIO SELLA. Himalayan peaks in Kashmir, from near Sildi. Shigar Valley from Nest Dilfi, 1909, Sella number HK SC1007. 18.3x23.7" gelatin silver print, printed c. 1909, mounted on 20.5x25.5" heavy brown paper. Inscribed in ink on mount verso: Karakoram Mts. / Himalayan peaks in Cashmere; in pencil; Range to left of Shigar Valley (from near Sildi).

"Shigar valley runs from north-west to south-east for about 25 miles, maintaining a width of about three miles and with a drop of some 350 feet. The sand has obliterated nearly every trace of glacial action. Only in sheltered corners and on the lee side of lateral spurs are to be found moraine remnants, which bear witness to the past occupation of the valley up to a great height by a gigantic glacier . . ." KARAKORAM & WESTERN HIMALAYA 1909 BY FILIPPO DE FILIPPI. NY DUTTON 1912 p. 139

Sella photographed every stage of their journey, generally leaving camp before breakfast with his assistant Botta and the coolies who carried the photographic and cinematographic apparatus, so that he could photograph the scenery, or catch the expedition on the march at picturesque places on the road. Often, he lingered behind to photograph some especially beautiful landscape feature, or he wandered around the outskirts of the camp searching for subjects to photograph.

In 1909, as Sella was approaching his fiftieth birthday, he and his long time climbing friend the Duke of the Abruzzi, Luigi Amedeo di Savoia, embarked on their most ambitious journey yet, to climb K2 in the Western Himalaya Karakoram range, and to satisfy the Duke's primary intention to set a new high-altitude?climbing?record. In Tibetan, the name Karakoram means "black gravel," and to reach it meant crossing the vast mountainous region between Kashmir and Chinese Turkestan, a complex system of ranges, immense tablelands, intricate valleys, and mighty rivers.

The Duke wanted to determine how high human beings could climb and survive, a question that could only be solved by direct experience. The expedition ultimately spent over two months on the Karakoram glaciers and returned with a trove of scientific data that included a large number of photographs, a topographical survey of a portion of the high glacier basins, new altimetric measurements and meteorological data, new glaciological and geological observations, as well as the experience of long duration at low atmospheric pressure by both Europeans and natives.

Sella had already accompanied the Duke on expeditions to Alaska and Uganda, and once again the Duke wanted no one but Sella on the Karakoram expedition, knowing that his photographic record would be unsurpassed. Seven Italian guides and porters were chosen from Courmayeur, in the valley of Aosta, Italy. Sella brought with him Erminio Botta, who acted as assistant photographer, guide and porter, and was familiar with camp life and foreign mountaineering.

This sale of lots from this auction will directly benefit the Appalachian Mountain Club Trails Protection Fund; Conservation Research and Climate Action; and the Modernization and Preservation of the AMC Library and Archives.

1. Very Good: 2" scratch upper edge of print, edge wear, mount has worn corners small pieces missing top from tape and mount verso has tape residue.