Ski

1953 · réf. 58350 — Flumserberg Switzerland & UK: Barbara 1953. Oblong 4to. 9.5 x 6.7 in. 36 pp unpaginated. on thick black paper stock. With 58 photographs sized from 2.5 x 3.25 in. up to 3.5 x 5.5 in. some w/ scalloped edges nearly all w/ white lettered captions 2 real photo postcards nearly all mounted w/ glassine corners 4 pp. of brochure photo clippings 2 lift tickets 32 pp separately numbered leaves of ink manuscript ALS to “Mummy & Daddy” written in cursive w/ fold creases from previous insertion into mailing envelopes originally. Contemporary black textured boards post-binder brass screw posts at gutter margin gilt lettering stamped on front cover hand-lettered title minor rubbing NF exemplar. This excellent photo album records the completely new Ramblers’ skiing center in Switzerland established near Flumserberg in the Swiss Alps following World War II which featured three consecutive chair- and ski-lifts and a wide diversity of ski runs and close by shops. Barbara has included a photo postcard of her Pension Schwendiewiese and listed it as her return address in the letters home. After arriving at the Pension the group rents some skis have them fitted learned her instructor was to be Walter who “speaks a little” English and believes they will be more efficient than the Sr. Anton ski school. She writes while they were training that they “passed a squad of Swiss soldiers on the way down. . . and seem to be in an Alpine training school.” She writes about hearing of the death of Queen Mary of Teck March 24 1953 which is the only indication of dating within the year. She writes about the glorious weather riding the Tannenboden ski lift to Prodkamm slope writes about the skiing the slopes hiking back up and her great progress. Her letters also describe their evening sing-a-longs dances organized by the instructors and staying up way too late before being tired on the slopes the next day. The photos reveal the striking views and the participants in the skiing excursion. Barbara has included photos of the three instructors her intermediate group of skiers the snow-covered road to Tannenboden the snow-covered chapel at Flumserberg and the views from Flumserberg. Also included are images of the ski slopes the Tannenboden ski lift attached to the cable ski-hoist and the Kreuz ski-hut. The group was a mixed skiing group of men and women with most of the participants identified by first name with views in the background. Album ends with photo of the group reaching Victoria station on their route home at the end of the trip. Barbara, hardcover