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GEORGE LEIGH MALLORY (1886-1924) AND ANDREW COMYN IRVINE (1902-1924)
A collection of 5 autograph letters signed to Noel Odell by members of Mallory's and Irvine's families, August - September 1924, together 11 pages, various sizes.
The letters are written in reaction to the news of Irvine and Mallory's deaths. Two letters from Mallory's mother, and one from Irvine's father, thank Odell for his 'courage and bravery [...] during those unforgettable days' and arrange to meet him. Ruth Mallory provides a glimpse of the climber's legendary joie de vivre - 'I always loved to climb with him, he was always so gloriously happy and full of life & vigour. I don't think any one who had climbed with him & seen him could have wished to stop him climbing'. Hugh Irvine's reaction epitomises the sportsmanlike spirit in which the expedition was undertaken: 'as for Sandy [Irvine] it was such a good sporting effort that one can't be really sorry - though naturally one is temporarily - but the great thing was that he put up a stout show & I'm very glad about that'. (5)
A collection of 5 autograph letters signed to Noel Odell by members of Mallory's and Irvine's families, August - September 1924, together 11 pages, various sizes.
The letters are written in reaction to the news of Irvine and Mallory's deaths. Two letters from Mallory's mother, and one from Irvine's father, thank Odell for his 'courage and bravery [...] during those unforgettable days' and arrange to meet him. Ruth Mallory provides a glimpse of the climber's legendary joie de vivre - 'I always loved to climb with him, he was always so gloriously happy and full of life & vigour. I don't think any one who had climbed with him & seen him could have wished to stop him climbing'. Hugh Irvine's reaction epitomises the sportsmanlike spirit in which the expedition was undertaken: 'as for Sandy [Irvine] it was such a good sporting effort that one can't be really sorry - though naturally one is temporarily - but the great thing was that he put up a stout show & I'm very glad about that'. (5)