Land Above the Trees: A Guide to American Alpine Tundra
NY: Harper & Row, 1972. First edition. Hardcover. Signed on the title page by Zwinger in blue ink, and uncommon signed by her. This book was a finalist for the 1973 National Book Award in Science. "The first comprehensive book on the ecology of the alpine tundra of the United States," all of that tundra found in the West apart from New Hampshire's White Mountains, mainly in the Rockies, the Sierra, and the Cascades (the illustrated endpapers show a map of it throughout the country, which is a nice touch). Not a guidebook in the conventional sense, as Zwinger provides a graceful narrative descriptions that flow seamlessly. With 230 pencil line drawings by Zwinger, especially of alpine flowers, and a full-color photo insert. At rear is a comprehensive list of plants along with other appendices.
Green-turquoise cloth with silver lettering on spine. Near fine except that some pressed wildflowers (one of them in the pea family, the other we're not quite sure) are laid in a few places, which has left a few marks on the adjacent pages. A bump to the lower corner of text block has affected a run of pages in the interior a little. The jacket is very good with edge wear, three tears and one small chip to the top edges, and sunning to spine. Several geranium petals are pressed to the front flap, too, with small attending stains to front free endpaper. But the flowers seem absolute right in this volume. Very / Very good. Item #1204
ISBN: 9780060148232
Price: $150.00 save 5% $142.50