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In late 2025, a discovery was made at the Alpine Club, London. Hidden away in the basement archive at 55 Charlotte Road, amidst ice axes, tents and geological samples, was a huge collection of glass negatives from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Taken by some of the most famous names in British mountaineering, these photographs offered a tantalising glimpse into the early days of climbing in the Alps and put flesh on the bones of the men who made it possible.

Working with photographic printing and publishing experts Salto Ulbeek, the Alpine Club has chosen some of the best of these images to be reproduced as large-scale platinum-palladium prints. This printing process has transformed that tantalising glimpse into a true window onto the past. One through which you can almost hear the wind whipping at tweed jackets and feel the freshness of the Alpine air.

The exhibited photographs are by William Abney, Frank Smythe, Sydney Spencer and George Finch, and include depictions of some of the first guides ever to work in the Alps, as well as spectacular views of iconic peaks such as the Dent du Géant and the Matterhorn.

Commenting on the discovery of the prints, Alpine Club President Duncan Sperry said: “It is astonishing to see scenes of Alpine mountaineering from the 19th century brought to life in this way. The public are inclined to think of that period as one of conformist Victorian gentlemen, but these photographs reveal how similar they were to the adventurous climbers of today; leaping crevasses, posing on rock spikes and navigating the tangled masses of imposing glaciers.”

Georges Charlier of Salto Ulbeek said: “Discovering these negatives in the basement archive of 55 Charlotte Road was a truly exciting moment for us all. It is a privilege for us to work with this archival material and to be entrusted with printing these images using the platinum-palladium process.”

The project forms part of the Alpine Club's continuing work to preserve and make accessible Britain's mountaineering heritage. Over time, glass and celluloid negatives deteriorate and the process of scanning, cataloguing and printing ensures that these images are preserved for future generations. Platinum-palladium printing is particularly suited to historic photographic material. The process produces prints with an exceptionally broad tonal range and distinctive depth, while platinum and palladium are among the most stable photographic image-forming materials, giving properly preserved prints an extraordinary potential longevity

For interested parties, details of how to purchase limited edition platinum-palladium prints of the exhibited photographs will be available at the exhibition. From 1 October, the exhibition will also include folios for each of the featured photographers containing a selection of prints and an accompanying essay.