Vittorio Sella [1859-1943].
Mountain Views, six large format silver print photographs, comprising:
230 - Torre Mustagh dal Campo XI ai piedi de Golden Throne (telefotografia) [Muztagh or Mustagh Tower in the Karakoram range].
view taken by telephoto lens, lightly tinted, printed description on slip to lower margin, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ lower right, portrait;
91 bis - Masherbrum dal Boltoro [Pakistan, formerly known as K1].
printed description on slip to lower margin, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ lower right, 'Karakorum-Himalaya' or reverse, portrait;
90 bis - Masherbrum dal Baltoro [Pakistan, formerly known as K1].
Lightly tinted, printed description on slip to lower margin, landscape;
[Trango Towers, Northern Pakistan].
untitled, landscape;
[Snow covered summit, unidentified].
lightly tinted, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ lower right, landscape;
[Unidentified mountain range with scree slopes in the foreground, possibly Siniolchu].
lightly tinted, landscape.
Silver prints on bromide double weight paper, sheet size 300mm x 397mm, unglazed glossy.
[provenance, the photographs were purchased in 1945 by the vendor’s father, a British Army Captain, while stationed in the town of Biella].
C Douglas Milner described Vittorio Bella as ‘the greatest of all photographers of [his] generation’ (A Century of Mountain Photography, Alpine Club Journal, Nov 1957). For a detailed description of his life and work, see Ronald Clark’s monograph ‘The Splendid Hills, The Life and Photographs of Vittorio Sella, 1859-1943’, Phoenix House, 1948. (6)