The World Displayed, in Its History and Geography; Embracing a History of the World, From the Creation to the Present Day, Vol. 1

by Royal Robbins

Excerpt from The World Displayed, in Its History and Geography; Embracing a History of the World, From the Creation to the Present Day

As subservient to the improvements above alluded to, we must acknowledge the agency of numerous contrivances by means of maps, charts, engravings, and copious statistical tables, and also of a distinction of type between what is more and what is less essential in the subject matter of a treatise. Several of these contrivances, as well as of the more general improvements; have been extended to historical productions, as books designed for education and especially ?eat help has been derived from the last named particular  the use of difierentsnzes of type.

728 pages, Paperback

First published July 26, 2015

About the author

Robbins was a pioneer of American rock climbing who completed an impressive list of first ascents throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s. Many of these were in Yosemite Valley, and included major classics such as the Northwest Face of Half Dome (1957), the Salathé Wall on El Capitan (1961), the North America Wall on El Capitan (1964) and Tis-sa-ack on Half Dome (1969).

Robbins' climbing ethics were also pioneering, as he championed the cause of "clean" (i.e. hammerless) climbing in an era when the use of pitons and bolts was regarded as standard practice.