A Guide to the Pyrenees

Description

Published by Longmans Green and Co, London, 1867, 2nd Edition (Rewritten and much enlarged, the 1st Edition was published in 1862), original decorative boards with some wear at edges, new spine, illustrated with a frontispiece and 3 coloured maps (2 in the front and rear pockets and one in the text – some wear at folds to the 2 maps in the pockets), overall Good/V.G.

Charles Packe (1826-1896) was an English lawyer and explorer, particularly noted for his travels and writing about the Pyrenees, and at one time was Secretary of The Alpine Club.  He first went to the Pyrenees in 1853, making a traverse of the range.  This was followed by further explorative trips in 1857 and 1858, and then he moved there permanently in 1859, subsequently making a number of first or early ascents.  “Packe was largely responsible for opening up the Pyrenees as a climbing district and his guide remained the standard work until the turn of the century” (Neate).  This was also the first guide to the Pyrenees in English.  This 2nd Edition is noted as “Rare and much sought after” in Labarere’s standard reference bibliography on the Pyrenees, Essai de Bibliographie Pyreneiste (1986).