Objects Database

Mont Blanc by George Baxter

Accession Number

1644.2022.1a-b

Object Name

Mont Blanc by George Baxter

Created

03/02/2022

Creator

Hermione Cooper

Accession Date

03/02/2022

Brief Description

Early glass plate slide depicting early ascent of Mont Blanc and CD copy

Materials

glass, wood, metal

Dimensions

18(L) x 11(W) x 1(D) cms

Number Of Objects

2

Inscription Description

"166" etched on wood surround. "MONT BLANC SUMMIT" in pencil

Colour

brown

Provenance

We saw this old glass plate slide for sale on the internet and thought it looked interesting - it is!
The slide shows members of John MacGregor’s party on the summit of Mont Blanc in 1853. It seems that MacGregor sketched the images during the ascent and had them printed (circa 1855) by a George Baxter who was an artist and printer often credited with the invention of commercially viable colour printing.
John MacGregor (1825-1892) was nicknamed ‘Rob Roy’ after his distant outlaw relative, and whilst his ascent of Mont Blanc in 1853 was an impressive mountaineering feat, he is better known for his canoeing exploits, being credited, along with many others, with the invention of the sailing canoe much publized in his book ‘A Thousand Miles in the Rob Roy Canoe’ which was published in 1866.
Much more on MacGregor on the internet but for now we’ll enjoy our interesting little purchase.

Acquisition Method

Bought on Internet

Acquisition Date

03/02/2022

Condition Check Date

03/02/2022

Rules

Spectrum : UK Museum documentation standard, V.3.1 2007

Modified

03/02/2022

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