EVEREST 1953

The 1953 British Mount Everest expedition is one of the great feats of mountaineering. It was, of course, the first expedition to place two people, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary, on the summit of the highest mountain on earth – but it was also an exceptional act of human endeavour, team work, technical innovation and cultural co-operation.

The Royal Geographical Society is custodian to a great many of the artefacts and correspondence relating to the 1953 expedition, chief amongst which are over 4,000 original slides and negatives. This photographic material tells the story of the expedition from its departure in Darjeeling to the very top of the mountain. The RGS is now in the process of scanning, digitising and conserving these photographs, ensuring that any future physical degradation of the film stocks is kept to a minimum.

A small selection of the most iconic photographs from 1953 are available from Salto Ulbeek as limited edition black & white platinum palladium prints. Included are Hillary’s summit photo of Tenzing and pictures of the pair returning from their historic climb. The photographers are Hillary himself, Alfred Gregory, Charles Wylie and the expedition’s leader John Hunt.

Print Sales

Limited Edition Platinum Palladium Prints. Available in 2 sizes:

MEDIUM FORMAT

55 x 68cm (paper size)

£1,975.00

30 Prints

LARGE FORMAT

76 x 112cm (paper size)

£3,085.00

20 Prints

Please enquire for additional size options.

Prints are stamped by Artist’s Estate and include a certificate of authenticity.

© The Royal Geographical Society

© Salto-Ulbeek

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Tenzing Norgay on the summit by Edmund Hillary, 29th May 1953

Ref. MEE53/03311.7

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Team members return to Camp IV after the ascent by Alfred Gregory

Ref. MEE53/00488

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Tenzing and Hillary after returning from the summit by Alfred Gregory

Ref. MEE53/00439

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Forging a path in the ice by Alfred Gregory

Ref. MEE53/00110

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Rocky, exposed camp with Ama Dablam in the distance by Charles Wylie

MEE53/00882

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Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay on the South-East ridge by Alfred Gregory, 28th May 1953

Ref. MEE53/03052

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Tenzing Norgay on the summit of Chukhung Peak by John Hunt, 3rd April 1953

Ref. MEE53/01677

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Edmund Hillary assists Tenzing Norgay over a crevasse by John Hunt, 25th April 1953

Ref. MEE53/01801

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Edmund Hillary crossing a ladder bridge by John Hunt, 25th April 1953

Ref. MEE53/01800

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Edmund Hillary by Alfred Gregory

Ref. MEE53/00341

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Charles Evans by Alfred Gregory

Ref. MEE53/00348

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John Hunt by Alfred Gregory

Ref. MEE53/00520

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