Vittorio Sella [1859-1943].
Alpine Ranges, six large format silver print photographs of the Monte Rosa massif and others, comprising:
358 - Monte Rosa - Lyskamm - Castore e Pollure - dalla cresta del Welsshorn (Agosto 1887).
Manuscript description to lower margin, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ lower right, landscape;
1790 [bis]- Monte Rosa dal Passo di M. Moro (Macugnaga)
Printed description to lower margin, landscape;
1796 - Monte Rosa dal declivio boscoso sopra Macugnaga, alla sera. Agosto 1895.
Skillfully tinted, printed title on slip to lower margin, portrait;
1572- Vincent Pyramide - Parrotspitz e ghiarriajo della Pisse dalla cima del Fallenhorn (Alagna) Settembre 1892.
Matt finish, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ to lower right, manuscript title to lower margin, landscape;
107- Mischabel - Alphubel - Allalinhorn - Rimpfischhorn- & Valle di Zermatt dalla vetta del Cervino 4482 (29 Luglis 1882)
Matt finish, blind-stamped ‘Vittorio Sella, Biella’ to lower right, manuscript title to lower margin, landscape;
150 - Dente del Gigante versante Occidentale (Monte Bianco).
The Giant’s Tooth in the Mont Blanc massif, skillfully tinted, printed title on slip to lower margin, landscape.
Silver prints on bromide double weight paper, sheet size 300mm x 397mm, unglazed glossy unless stated, believed to be printed later than the dates given.
[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)