Eric Shipton - KARAKORAM 1939 - RARE COLOR MAP - Wraps

Author: MOTT, P. G.
Title: Karakoram Survey, 1939: A New Map.
Publisher: London: Royal Geographical Society, 1950.
Item is in ORIGINAL Condition, With Blue Wrappers - As Issued, Complete with All the Ads!

Eric Shipton's Rare Karakoram Map - Finally Printed 10 Years Following the Expedition!

Notes: This issue of the Journal contains Eric Shipton's long-awaited Karakoram Expedition Map featuring the Hispar-Biafo glacial regions. Accompanied by notes detailing technical aspects of the expedition not previously published. Topics include the Hispar triangulation methods and instruments, plane-tabling, accidental damage to a theodolite, and photographic surveying and mapping. Remarkable detail on the intensive surveys performed.

Shipton planned a most ambitious expedition of sixteen months, to be divided into four parts, the summer of 1939 to be spent in the Hispar-Biafo-Panmah area and the winter of 1939-40 in regions east of the Shimshal pass. In the spring of 1940 he would attempt a journey from Shimshal to Leh via the Shaksgam river with the intent to survey the part of the Aghil range north of regions explored by Mason in 1926. Plans for the summer of 1940 would be finalized upon political approval to enter certain areas far removed from the Karakoram range. Triangulation was accomplished from the Indo-Russian system in the Hunza valley, up the Hispar to the head of the Biafo glacier, resulting in a survey covering 1750 square miles and new mountain passes crossed.

Excerpt from the text: The area covered by the map is one of considerable interest geographically, comprising as it does two of the longest glaciers outside polar regions and containing what is probably the greatest concentration of high peaks in the world. Before Shipton's Expedition the only maps of the regions were based on sketch surveys by Conway and, later, the Bullock-Workmans, which provided only a hesitant outline (often wildly in error) of this vastly complicated piece of terrain. End excerpt.

Scarce Large Fold-Out Colour Map - Eric Shipton's Revolutionary Karakoram Expedition!

The surveys carried out on this expedition were compiled during the winter of 1939-40, however the publication of there records was interrupted by the war and the map had not yet been produced. Lack of funds delayed the production even further. With funds subscribed by the Society and further funding contributed by the Himalayan Committe, finally, a decade after completion of the field work, it became possible to bring the results to a logical conclusion by the publication of this highly important and remarkable expedition map.

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Condition: 9 pages including black and white photographic plates. Plus the large fold-out color map measuring 18 inches x 25 inches. Original condition with blue wrappers, titles to front, and containing all the ads. This is a complete monthly issue of the Geographical Journal, containing the above described narrative. Seldom found in such good and original condition.