The Ascent of Everest

London: Hodder And Stoughton, 1953. First Edition . Blue Cloth. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Charles Evans. Foreword/faux signature by Prince Phillip, H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. Chapter 16 by Sir Edmund Hillary and appendices by members of the expedition. Book has blue boards, gilt text on spine only. Unclipped (25/-net), wrap-around DJ by W. Heaton Cooper. 232 pp. plus: Appendix I Diary of the Expedition September 1952 - June 1953 compiled by Wilfred Noyce, Appendix II Preparations for the Everest Expedition, 1953 Organization, Appendix III Memorandum Everest, 1953 Basis for Planning ( The Ascent, The Preparatory Period, The Expedition Timetable), Appendix IV notes on Certain Items of Equipment by Charles Wylie, Appendix V Oxygen Equipment T.D. Bourdillon [signatory], Appendix VI Diet By Griffith Pugh and George Band [signatory], Appendix VII Physiology and Medicine By Griffith Pugh and Michael Ward[signatory], Appendix VIII Everest 1953 Assault Load Tables, Appendix IX Acknowledgements of Assistance in Launching the Expedition, Glossary, Index. Book slightly rubbed at tail of spine, unsunned boards retain their original colour, top edge dyed blue, corners good, gilt text as new, book is slightly cocked and bowed, fon and address, Bradley ffep, some foxing evident. DJ has darkened spine, edge and extremity wear with some chipping and tears, the longest at top rear panel being 1.3 cm. Laid in is a commemorative/souvenir menu for a dinner at the Hyde Park Hotel in Knightsbridge, London on Wednesday, 21st October, 1953. The outside of this shows the route to the summit with the various numbered level camps. The front states: Conquest of Everest 29,002 feet 29th MAY 1953. The inside carries(on the left) the Toast List (The Queen, The Everest Team. Proposed by Mr. Donald McCullough Supported by Group Captain D.F. McIntyre, A.F.C. (who had flown over Everest with the Duke of Hamilton 20 years previously). The right side carries the menu of the meal. October 21st, 1953 was also the date of the Premiere of the movie, 'The Conquest of Everest' at the Warner Cinema. The premiere was attended by Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and members of the expedition team. Sir John Hunt's daughter presented a bouquet to the Queen who had become the monarch at roughly the same date as the successful ascent. At the left bottom of the menu are found the signatures of: T.D Bourdillon, George Band, George Lowe, Michael Ward and another signature that I surmise to be that of Charles Wylie, the organizing secretary for the expedition. The name at the top left of the menu is the same as the fon in the book. The only Bradley mention in the Index of the book is in reference to 'Bradley Boots' which was the specifically designed footwear for this expedition. The original owner of the book also had a twin brother named Harry and I speculate that one of them is the, " Mr. Bradley" referred to by Charles Wylie on p.251. A most interesting item of mountaineering/historical importance. Digital pictures available on request. Bookseller's Inventory # 110024