‎O'Shea, Stephen‎
‎The Alps‎

‎Travels from France to Italy, through the Lepontine Alps; or, an itinerary from Lyons to Turin, by the way of Pays-de-Vaud, the Vallais, and across the Monts Great St. Bernard, Simplon, and St. Gothard: with topographical and historical descriptions of the principal places which lie contiguous to the route; including some philosophical observations on the natural history and elevation of that part of the Alps to which are added remarks on the course of the Rhone from its source to the Mediterranean Sea. ‎

‎London, Printed by S. Hamilton, for G.G. and J. Robinson, 1800, in-folio, 4 leaves (1 blank - printed title-page - advertisements - contents) + 1 engraved title-page with view + 218 p. + 1 blank leaf + 1 folded handcoloured engraved map ‘Chart of places... including the principal peaks of that chain of the alps from the Buchetta to Mont St. Gotthard’ + 1 townmap of Lyon in black + 25 plates printed in brown (soot brown or bistre), with most of the original protective tissue gards (mostly browned in the margins), some waterstains to the lower margins of the engraved title-page and some others, hw. ownership on first free fly ‘J. Matilda Scott’, Original leather spine, boards with rests of orig.-paper. Used.‎

‎First edition, reprinted in 1806. This book has never been translated into French. Illustrated engraved titlepage with view followed by the numbered plates I to XXVII, which include 1 general coloured map, 1 town-plan of Lyon printed in black and 25 views printed in brown (bistre), all after drawings by Albanis Beaumont. List of plates: Plates numb. I -XXVII: Vue de Lyon, taken from the Arsenal / Lyon Aquaduct, built by the Romans / Voltaire’s Tomb - Roman Theatre at Lyons / Geometrical plan of Lyons including the New Buildings of Parrache (tirage en noir) / Cascade and Lake of Nantua / Town of Nantua, Continuation of the same / Representation of the above Lake / Loss of the Rhone (Perte du Rhône) / Re-appearance of the Rhone / Fort of Cluse / Ferney / Geneva / Versoix / Morges / Lausanne / Vevay (sic.) / Salt-Works at Bex, Canton of Berne (sic.: aujourd’hui Vaud) / Bridge of St. Maurice on the Rhone / Martigny and the Valley of the Rhone / Glacier between those of Valsoray and La Valpeline / Summit of the great St. Bernard, inculding the Hospice or Convent / Sion / Source of the Rhone and Glacier of la Furca / Ascent of the St. Gothard / Hospice on the St. Gothard / The Devil’s Bridge. Abbey: Travel in Aquatint & Lithography n° 53; Wäber, 109; Perret 333: Bel album rare et recherché pour la qualité des illustrations. Image disp.‎

‎The Alps. Illustrated from photographs. 3rd edition, revised.‎

‎London, B.T. Batsford, 1947, in-8vo, frontispiece, viii + 120 p., richly ill. with 130 photos and a design of the structure of the Alps, clothbound, map of the alps on the fly-leaves. ‎

‎Scrambles amongst the Alps in the years 1860-1869. With maps and illustrations. Fourth thousand.‎

‎London, John Murray, 1871, gr. in-8°, XX + 432 p., with 23 full-page illustrations, 92 in the text ill. and 5 folded maps (1 in colours), ‎

‎Second edition, published the same year and by the same publisher, as the original. In 1860 the author was commissionned to make a series of sketches in the Central and Western Alps. He successfully accomplished the ascent of Mount Pelvoux (1861), believed to be, at that time, the highest peak of the Dauphiné Alps. The ascent of the Pointe des Ecrins (1864) was perhaps the most remarkable feat of moumtaineering up to that date. After 1865, Tyndall and Whymper emulated each other in fruitless attempts to reach the summit of the Matterhorn by the south-western side (Italian side). The author, six times unsuccessful, determined then to attempt the eastern face, convinced that its precipitous appearance, when viewed from Zermatt, was an optical illusion. His attempt, the seventh, was crowned with success (July 1865): though the accident which cost the life of four of his mates on the way back, Whymper had opened the usual route taken from then to ascend the Matterhorn. The account of this victory of man on nature occupies the greater part of this book. Cox n° 18.; Perret 4557. Image disp.‎

‎Scrambles amongst the Alps in the years 1860-1869. With maps and illustrations. Fourth thousand.‎

‎London, John Murray, 1871, gr. in-8°, XX + 432 p., with 23 full-page illustrations, 92 in the text ill. and 5 folded maps (1 in colours), ownership signature on title ,E. Olney’ and an other on first blank (hard to read:) Alanw..., Originaé dark green blindstamped morocco, spine with raised bands, inside covers with gilt dentelles.‎

‎Second edition, published the same year and by the same publisher, as the original. In 1860 the author was commissionned to make a series of sketches in the Central and Western Alps. He successfully accomplished the ascent of Mount Pelvoux (1861), believed to be, at that time, the highest peak of the Dauphiné Alps. The ascent of the Pointe des Ecrins (1864) was perhaps the most remarkable feat of moumtaineering up to that date. After 1865, Tyndall and Whymper emulated each other in fruitless attempts to reach the summit of the Matterhorn by the south-western side (Italian side). The author, six times unsuccessful, determined then to attempt the eastern face, convinced that its precipitous appearance, when viewed from Zermatt, was an optical illusion. His attempt, the seventh, was crowned with success (July 1865): though the accident which cost the life of four of his mates on the way back, Whymper had opened the usual route taken from then to ascend the Matterhorn. The account of this victory of man on nature occupies the greater part of this book. Cox n° 18.; Perret 4557. Image disp.‎

‎Jerusalem in the Alps. The Sacro Monte of Varallo and the Sanctuaries of North-Western Italy‎

‎, Brepols, 2019 Hardback, xii + 310 pages, Size:156 x 234 mm, Illustrations:7 b/w, 50 col., 2 maps b/w, Language: English. ISBN 9782503580579.‎

‎Summary The Sacro Monte (Holy Mountain) at Varallo is a sanctuary in the Italian Alps west of Milan. It was founded in the late fifteenth century by a Franciscan friar, with the support of the town's leading families. He designed it as a schematic replica of Jerusalem, to enable the faithful to make a virtual pilgrimage to the Holy City if they could not undertake the perilous journey to visit it physically. The Sacro Monte consists of a sequence of chapels containing tableaux of life-size painted terra-cotta figures with fresco backgrounds recounting the life and Passion of Christ. A century later, in the era of the Counter-Reformation, a 'second wave' of Sacri Monti was constructed in the north-western Alps, modelled on Varallo, but dedicated to other devotional themes, like the Rosary or the life of St Francis. All these sanctuaries, like Varallo, were the result of local initiatives, initiated by the clergy and the leaders of the communities where they were situated. Like Varallo, they were the work of artists and craftsmen from the alpine valleys, or from nearby Lombardy. Long dismissed as folk art unworthy of serious critical attention, the Sacri Monti are now recognised as monuments of unique artistic significance. In 2003 UNESCO listed nine of them in its register of World Heritage Sites. This book studies their development as the products of the religious sensibilities and the social, economic, and political conditions of the mountain communities that created them. TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface Chapter 1. Samuel Butler Encounters the Sacri Monti Butler's Intellectual Odyssey Butler Explores the Sacri Monti After Butler Chapter 2. The Val Sesia. Society and Politics Geography and History Economy and Society Varallo Chapter 3. The Foundation of the Sacro Monte of Varallo Bernardino Caimi, the Observant Franciscan Pilgrimage to Jerusalem The Act of Foundation Patronage: the Scarognini Family Caimi Takes Possession of the Sacro Monte Caimi's Project The First Guide Book to the Sacro Monte Parallels Chapter 4. The Sixteenth Century. From Gaudenzio Ferrari to Carlo Borromeo Political and Social Conflict Gaudenzio Ferrari and the Sacro Monte The Spectators' Response Conflict between the Fabbricieri and the Observant Franciscans The Libro dei Misteri The Era of Carlo Borromeo Chapter 5. The Seventeenth Century. The Era of the Counter-Reformation Patronage and Local Politics Bishop Bascap The Expulsion of the Observant Franciscans Bascap and the Artistic Development of the Sacro Monte Pilate's Palace The Era of the D'Enrico Brothers The Basilica of the Virgin War and Plague The Rebellion of 1678 and its Aftermath Chapter 6. The Eighteenth Century. The Val Sesia under the House of Savoy The Transfer to Savoyard Sovereignty Completing the Sacro Monte Enlightened Absolutism versus Ancient Privilege The Reformed Brothers Depart Chapter 7. Varallo as Model. The Later Sacri Monti The Sacri Monti as a System? Orta Crea Oropa Ghiffa Varese Sacro Monte Calvario Domodossola Ossuccio Belmonte Graglia and Arona Similarities and Differences Epilogue. Revolution and Restoration Appendices Bibliography‎