1. VITTORIO SELLA. [From the summit of Mont Pelvoux] Part of the same panorama as No. 524, c. 1879-1892, Sella number AI 523. 11.3x15.1" collodion print, printed c. 1893, mounted on 12.1x16" brown board. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: 523. Pyramide Durand / (Part of same panorama as 524.); inscribed in pencil: AI.; Print recto embossed with artist's credit stamp in bottom right corner; inscribed in blue pencil on mount verso: B.K.; stamped in black ink: Depose / Tous Droits Reserves / [rest of stamp obscured].

2. VITTORIO SELLA. Pyramide Durand. From the summit of Mont Pelvoux (Pointe Puiseux), at 12,900 feet, c. 1879-1892, Sella number AI 524 (1). 11.3x15.2" collodion print, printed c. 1893, mounted on 13.8x17.2" heavy brown board. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: A-I-524; Print recto embossed with artist's credit stamp in bottom right corner; inscribed in ink on mount verso: Pyramid Durand, etc. / from summit of Mont Pelvoux / at 12,900 ft. / A-I524; inscribed in pencil: 142/524/(1).

3. VITTORIO SELLA. Les Bans, from the Col du Sele, c. 1879-1892, Sella number AI 530 (2). 11.3x15.4" collodion print, printed c. 1893, mounted on 12.1x16.3" brown board. Inscribed in ink on mount recto: Alps / 530. Les Bans, from the Col due Sele. / AI.; Print recto embossed with artist's credit stamp in bottom right corner; inscribed in ink: 530; inscribed in pencil on mount verso: Loan 32; stamped in black ink: Depose / Tous Droits Reserves / V. Sella - Biella.

Mount Pelvous is 3,946 m 12,946 ft.Les Bans is 3,669 m 12,037 ft. Col du Sele is 3,302 m 10,833 ft.

The Dauphiné Alps (French: Alpes du Dauphiné) are a group of mountain ranges in southeastern France, west of the main chain of the Alps. Mountain ranges within the Dauphiné Alps include the Massif des écrins (in the Parc national des écrins), Belledonne, the Taillefer range and the mountains of Matheysine.

Vittorio Sella (1859-1943) began serious mountain climbing and photography when he was a teenager mastering the wet plate technique and making panoramas by 1880. By 1879 he began to use dry plates and in 1880 began a series of winter views in the Alps. Every holiday, summer and winter, Sella was in the nearby mountains, often carrying an old photographic apparatus that had belonged to his father.

He climbed and photographed in the Alps annually making the first winter ascents of a number or prominent peaks including the Matterhorn in 1882 and the first winter hike across Mont Blanc in 1884. His panoramas were up to 12 plates and 360 degrees. Photography and mountain climbing were family affairs, and most climbs would be with his brother Erminio a couple of other companions and guides including Daniel Maquignaz and later his assistant photographic assistant Emile Bota.

1. Fair to Good: Moderate wear, abrasions, dirt, pinholes in all corners and in upper middle edge; 2, 1/2" tears on lower edge; 1/2x1/8" piece missing from R backing edge. Mount is worn missing edges, corner wear and dirty.

2. Fair to Poor: Heavy wear, edge and corner wear, dirt, abrasions small spots. Mount is worn with tears and pieces missing, fragile.

3. Good: Moderate edge and corner wear, abrasions, spots and dirt. 1 1/2" of lower L and R corners missing. 2 1/2" scratch on middle of print. Mount has edge and corner wear.