La Conquista del K2 [The Conquest of K2]
Author(s):
Desio, Ardito
Copyright: 1954, Garzanti, Milano
Specifications: 1st, 8vo, pp.xiii, 250, (64), fldg photo frontis, 16 color & 80 bw (2 fldg) photos, 3 color maps (1 fldg), blue cloth
Condition: signed Walter Bonatti, dj w/ most of spine missing, chipped, torn, poor, cloth w/ SIAE blindstamp on title page, small ink owner’s name in two places, vg
The official account of the 1954 Italian first ascent of K2. This original Italian edition has more photos than the English language translations. This copy has the blindstamp of the Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori (SIAE, Italian Authors and Publishers Association) as I have seen in other copies. This signed copy is quite interesting as Bonatti’s signature on this book is very rare, given the controversial nature of the expedition, and his signature looks much more like one would expect, as it changed later on. A unique copy.