Chamois - Isard - Bear - Lot 25

Chamois - Isard - Bear MEILLON (Alphonse Auguste) Cauterets Hautes Pyrénées - Hunting, Excursions. Illustrations by E. GUILLIOD. Paris, Publications Artistiques de l'Album illustré des Villes d'Eaux et de Bains de Mer, 1897. Small square in-8: 80pp. numerous photo illustrations and drawings in text. ½ percaline moutarde à la Bradel, fawn title-piece on spine, gilt iron, publisher's almond cover, preserved. A fine copy. This book will be of interest to both Pyrenees enthusiasts and hunters. The author is not stingy with names of hunters, descriptions of places and meticulous details of isard (and bear) hunting. Viscos, Ardiden, Pène Nère, Aratille, Fache, Vignemale, Estibaoute, Poueytrenous, Hourmigas... and other little-known places in the central Pyrenees. Beraldi (VII 47-48) ironizes: "Interesting for hunters, who are not interesting. Of all the varieties of men who come to the mountains, they are the most blind to nature, the most insensitive to picturesque discovery...". Let's face it, they've always been excellent guides, led by Célestin Passet.