King, Clarence; Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada. 1st edition. James R. Osgood and Company, Boston 1872. Octavo, pp. 2, 292.

The text is complete and in the original dark red cloth with gilt spine titles, very minor repair to upper spine edge with spine lightly sun faded, owner's small book plate on first leaf, near fine.
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King (1842-1901) was the first Director of the United States Geological Survey. A graduate of Yale's Sheffield Scientific School, he was only 25 years old when he was appointed Geologist in charge of the exploration along the 40th Parallel, which spanned from Eastern Colorado to California. He was also an avid explorer of mountainous areas and his explorations in the Sierra Nevada resulted in one of the classics of American mountaineering literature. This work was a result of King's participation in the Geological Survey of California from 1863 to 1866. The descriptions of the ascent and descent of Mount Tyndall and the story of the vain efforts to reach the summit of Mount Whitney are classics of Mountaineering literature. He is remembered both by this work and by the 12,909-foot Sierra Nevada peak, Mount Clarence King. He dedicates the work to Josiah Dwight Whitney and his staff at the Geological Survey of California.