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HUNTFORD, ROLAND: : TWO PLANKS AND A PASSION: THE DRAMATIC HISTORY OF SKIING

LONDON.CONTINUUM UK,2009.

ISBN 9781847252364.

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st reprint edn. [Originally and first published 2008,this edn is its first reprint.] FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn and an absence of a published price - these generally believed to be export edns,released prior to trade's issue in the country of origin. Bright,crisp,clean,wrap-around,matt,colour illustration in art deco-esque artwork by Laurence Whiteley,illustrated dw/dj with capitalised white-lettered part-title, capitalised,pale orange-lettered sub-title and capitalised,black-lettered author name - all to front of dw/dj; reddish-brown spine/backstrip with similarly coloured+lettered author name and part-title as the front's,and publisher’s black lettered+illustrated colophon to foot of same, rear panel of dw/dj with continuation of colour pictorial illustration.Negligible shelf-wear, bumping,creasing to edges and corners – no nicks,tears or splits present.Top+fore-edges bright crisp,clean without foxing/spotting; contents bright, tight,clean,solid and sound – no dog-ear reading creases to any pages’ corner tips – appears unread,apart from my own collation.Publisher’s bright,crisp,clean/ unblemished,sharp-cornered,original plain red cloth boards with bright,crisp,blocked silver gilt lettering to spine/backstrip,and immaculate plain maroon endpapers.UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,x -xivpp+2-436pp [paginated] includes verso of Maps & Illustrations list/table, Acknowledgements,36 chapters; profuse thumbnail facsimile contemporary b/w illustrations reproductions,photographs,diagrams and maps interspersed throughout the text and the book,Notes,a 28pp Bibliography,and an Index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,a dedication,a Contents list/table and to the rear, pp blanks. Visually the exterior appearance is exceptional and particularly internally,is also in an exceptional condition/state of preservation and presentation,for a book of its 15 year-old age. It really is an exceptional,exemplary example  for its cleanliness,brightness and lack of detracting faults. Predating the wheel,the ski has played an important role in our history. Roland Huntford's engaging history begins 20,000 years ago in the last ice age on the tundra of an unformed earth.Man is a travelling animal,and on these icy slopes skiing began as a means of survival. That it has developed into the leisure and sporting pursuit of choice by so much of the globe bears testament to its elemental appeal. In polar exploration,it has changed the course of history.Elsewhere, in war and peace, it has done so too.The origins of skiing are bound up with the emergence of modern man and the world we live in today.                       This is the story of how skiing evolved into a modern recreation from a prehistoric struggle for survival.Huntford puts the history of skiing into its social and political contexts, illustrating its spread across the globe and importance in all facets of life.It is the first comprehensive history of skiing to make use of original Old Norse and Russian sources,as well as using ancient Greek,Roman,Chinese and Arabic works.Huntford draws on his vast knowledge of Scandinavian history and politics as well as his unique insight into polar exploration to produce the definitive history of the ski.                Please contact seller,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas customers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!          N.B. ALL buyers please note,stocks' actual shipping/P+p costs are adjusted and any difference is refunded,after order's receipt and before the order's despatch,especially if the item(s) are offered either P+p included/FREE.    ** N.B. US/Canada customers please be aware: Standard AIRMAIL postage from UK to these destinations can now cost more than the price of the book! If speed is not of the essence,then Economy rate is recommended - at approx. anything from a 1/3rd to 1/2 of the standard US AIR quote/rate - sometimes arriving sooner than the 42 days - but not always. **

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,illustrated,1st reprint edn.
Not SIGNED.

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