Second World War by Churchill (Over 2,700 results)

An excellent presentation set of Churchill's wartime memoirs, inscribed in four volumes by the author to Sylvia Henley, "one of those who had known Churchill best, and longest. a frequent guest at Chartwell" (Gilbert, p.307). Four volumes are inscribed by the author: "For Sylvia from Winston 1948" (Vol. I), "For Sylvia from Winston 1951" (Vol. IV), "To Sylvia from Winston S. Churchill 1952" (Vol. V), and "Sylvia from Winston 1954 Bezique Grand Cup" (Vol. VI). Sylvia has noted in pencil after the inscription in the sixth volume "This refers to W's victory over me at Chartwell Jan 3 1954". Sylvia Henley (1882-1980) was Clementine Churchill's cousin, with whom she had a particularly "strong and long-lasting friendship" (Jenkins, p. 138). Along with Jock Colville, Sylvia was one of Churchill's most frequent and favoured Bezique opponents; Bezique was Churchill's favourite game, he was an expert player and inevitably devilishly competitive. During the war it provided a welcome distraction, and he played for hours on end. After the war he continued to play it almost daily and kept a meticulous account of scores and victories. The set is comprised of the first US editions, including first printings of Volumes II-IV and VI, a third printing of Volume I, and a later printing of Volume V (without date on the title page, removed following the first). The earliest presentation copies are always the US editions, which were published ahead of the UK editions. He was evidently delivered batches of copies by the publisher in a mix of printings. Presentation copies even to key figures are often in subsequent printings. The rear free endpapers have brief pencilled page references. Loosely inserted at the rear of Volume V is a letter from the insurers R. G. Hennell & Sons to Henley. Provenance: the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A240.1(I).c, A240.1(II-IV & VI).a [Vol. V a variant not noted by Cohen]; Woods A123(a). Martin Gilbert, In Search of Churchill, 1994; Roy Jenkins, Churchill, 2001. 6 volumes, octavo. Original red cloth, gilt-lettered spines, front covers with facsimile of Churchill's signature gilt on a black ground, pale red top edges. With supplied dust jackets. Maps and diagrams throughout. Light rubbing and a few nicks at extremities; unclipped jackets with a few minor chips and short closed tears at extremities, light rubbing, else bright: a very good set in very good jackets.

Album. This singular and compelling Second World War album was painstakingly compiled, decorated, and annotated by Royal Air Force Group Captain Walter J. Pickard. Full of mementos, documents, and photographs, the album chronicles the staging, preparation, and flights which conveyed Winston Churchill, as well as other British and American delegates, to the Yalta Conference in 1945, earning Pickard the accolades of his commanders, the appreciation of his Prime Minister, and the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.). Not least among the album s contents is the dated inscription of Winston S. Churchill and signed correspondence from Churchill s private secretary confirming that Churchill personally received, examined, and inscribed this album, and conveying Churchill s appreciation to Pickard.The album is 100 numbered pages, bound in leather-covered boards with a hand-labeled title "Saki" affixed diagonally on the front cover. "Saki" refers to the Crimean airbase, built by the Soviets in the 1930s, that served as the landing point for the aircraft bearing Churchill, Roosevelt, and the rest of the British and American delegations to the Conference. The boards show wear to extremities and the leather-covered spine is gone. The boards and contents nonetheless remain tenuously connected, the mull and overall binding structure quite fragile but still holding. The binding has done its job of preserving the treasure trove within; the contents are generally clean, only lightly toned with scattered stains and occasional creasing, and appear complete, as originally compiled.The contents of the album include the following:- A September 9, 1947 typed letter signed by Winston Churchill s Private Secretary addressed to Pickard acknowledging that Pickard sent the album to Churchill, expressing Churchill s thanks, and confirming that Churchill inscribed the album, which was returned with the letter.- Pickard s title page in elaborate, multi-hued calligraphy: "The Story of 150 Staging Post and the Airlift to the Yalta Conference February 1945."- Personnel list of those under the command of Group Captain W. J. Pickard.- 10 typed pages, marked "SECRET", comprising Pickard s detailed "REPORT ON OPERATION ARGONAUT ", dated "26th February, 1945" and signed by Pickard.- Five letters of appreciation from senior military commanders, including letters signed by U.S. Brigadier General James S. Stowell and General Lord Hastings Lionel "Pug" Ismay.- "TOP SECRET CYPHER MESSAGE" of "24th JANUARY" from "150 STAGING POST" to "TRANSPORT COMMAND" that, according to Pickard s elaborate calligraphy annotation, "nearly stopped the Conference".- 50 photographs from the conference, 13 featuring Churchill, Roosevelt, or both.- Seven currency notes, including Soviet, American, and Greek, five signed by a bevy of people, including pilots.- A "TOP SECRET MOST URGENT" typed "1st February 1945" letter signed by Air Commodore Whitney Straight to Group Captain Pickard conveying the "Flight Plan" and "Passenger Lists", as well as the fighter escort and other details, for transport of VIPs to the Yalta Conference.- The "Friday, February 16th, 1945" farewell dinner menu, signed on the blank verso by the members of Pickard s command.- Pickard s original Yalta Conference passes both British Delegation and Soviet.- A contemporary Observer clipping that specifically refers to this, Pickard s "remarkable autograph book "- A "24th January" 1945 typed and hand-annotated "TOP SECRET CYPHER MESSAGE" from Pickard regarding critical communication and transport difficulties preceding the Conference.This album, with all of its annotations and embellishments, has the look and feel of both military precision and treasured story book the adult manifestation of a seasoned commander and pilot recording his actual experience of every lad s dream to fly, to dare, and to overcome.Please note that additional images and a considerably more comprehensive description are available upon request.

This remarkable archive belonged to Charles Barker and centers on his service as Chief Clerk to British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill from 1940-1945, throughout Churchill's Second World War premiership. At the heart of the archive is a magnificent presentation copy of Churchill s history of the First World War, a wartime edition presented to Barker as a gift for Christmas, 1942, featuring not only Churchill s dated inscription, but also a typed and dated 10 Downing Street presentation slip. This item is but one of more than 70 individual items in the archive, ranging from books to correspondence and envelopes to photographs, to various mementos, including noteworthy invitations, tickets, and passes. Each of these items is interesting. Many are treasures in their own right. ProvenanceThis archive came from the collection of British army veteran and noted Churchillian Major Alan Taylor-Smith (1928-2019) of Westerham, Kent, proximate to Churchill s beloved country home, Chartwell. Not merely a collector, Smith also had his own research and notes on the recipient, as well as how this material was acquired, which are included with the archive.Charles BarkerBritish civil servant Charles Barker worked directly for Churchill for the entirety of Churchill s wartime premiership, from May 1940 to July 1945. During the War, Barker "kept both the papers and the private secretaries in order cheered up the doleful and was cynically destructive of pomposity. Life at 10 Downing Street would have been less efficient and less enjoyable without him." (Colville, Winston Churchill and His Inner Circle, p.80) Barker was an essential part of the small cadre comprising Churchill s Private Office staff, who "worked round the clock to assemble the incoming papers and telegrams, to prepare the minutes for dispatch, to answer letters and queries, and to ensure that his instructions were circulated and followed up." (Gilbert, Vol. VI) Barker was awarded an M.B.E. in the 1946 New Year Honours, of course on Churchill s recommendation; the December 1945 notification from "Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood" is among the items in this archive.Burn EverythingAmong the first duties Churchill assigned to Barker was to regularly empty all the War Rooms and 10 Downing Street waste baskets then burn everything that might be deemed secret. This was not a janitorial duty, but a matter of national security. Fortunately, Barker exercised his license to arson with judicious discretion. "Charles decided to keep everything from the Cabinet waste paper baskets that was not Secret but interesting. He took it home and put into a leather suit case " Taylor-Smith reports "I bought this filled suitcase in an auction in Battle, East Sussex after Barker died." Certainly, not all of the treasures contained in that suitcase reside in this archive, but more than 70 individual items do.Archive ContentsBooks: In addition to Barker s inscribed presentation copy of The World Crisis, this archive contains Barker s six-volume, first edition set of The Second World War, featuring facsimile autograph compliments slips, a printed compliments card, and Charles Barker s name. Correspondence: 16 letters addressed to Barker spanning 1945 to 1968. 10 of these letters retain their original envelopes. The majority of the correspondence is from fellow Private Office staff. Also included are 12 additional envelopes without correspondence.Photographs: 25 Photographs, of which 15 are wartime photographs, 14 feature Churchill, 10 are original press or military photographs with original captions and/or wet stamps, and 6 feature Barker. Mementos: 12 items, including Barker s two original passes to the 1944 Quebec Conference attended by Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, and Mackenzie King, and Barker s personal invitation to Churchill s state funeral.Please inquire for a far more extensive and detailed account of this archive s significance, provenance, and contents.

First UK editions, first impressions, beautifully bound by the Chelsea Bindery, and signed by Churchill on the half-title of vol. III "Winston S. Churchill, 1952", for Lady Dorothy Addison, the wife of the long-serving politician Viscount Christopher Addison, with the Addison bookplate preserved from the earlier binding in the same volume. Initially both ministers in Lloyd George's Liberal government, Churchill and Christopher Addison parted ways politically after 1922, Churchill switching to the Conservatives, Addison to Labour. Although then political rivals, their "friendship extended over forty years" (O'Morgan, p. 280). Addison served as minister of munitions (1916-17), of reconstruction (1917-19), of health (1919-21), and of agriculture (1930-31), among other posts, as well as serving as Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal (1947-51) and Leader of the House of Lords (1945-51). "The most notable doctor ever to be involved in British politics, he played a much underestimated part, in two periods of war and reconstruction, in making Britain a welfare democracy and a more humane society" (ODNB). "Between 1910 and 1922, Churchill and Viscount Addison maintained amicable relations as fellow reforming Liberals and then as Liberal coalitionist supporters of David Lloyd George. Their main difference was over intervention in Bolshevik Russia. Churchill was by far the more charismatic figure, yet Addison also enjoyed a long ministerial career. In Lloyd George's government, Addison was initially minister of munitions, a post he held from December 1916 until Churchill succeeded him on 17 July 1917. Addison was supportive when Lloyd George strengthened the Liberal part of the coalition government and saw Churchill's return as especially important. He also continued to be one of the main organizers of Lloyd George's support within the Liberal Party, and he and Churchill usually agreed about political issues" (Wrigley, p. 4). In 1937 Addison was elevated to the Lords. "In the House of Lords, Addison was a notable critic of appeasement. Through Wing Commander Charles Torr Anderson, one of Churchill's advisers on defence, Addison was briefed on matters concerning power. Anderson informed Addison in March 1938 that Churchill deemed him 'a good ally to have'. Addison in turn gave input into the Labour Party leadership's thinking on air defense" (ibid. pp. 4-5). Churchill did not offer Addison a ministerial post in his wartime government but did offer him the post of vice chairman of the Development Commission, which Addison declined in order to concentrate on the Lords. Addison held further ministerial posts under Attlee. Christopher and Dorothy married in 1937. "The new Lady Addison manifestly did not share Addison's radicalism. However, as a poised and supportive wife she sustained his morale and enduring ambition. They lived in the village of Radnage, in Buckinghamshire, quite near Chequers" (ODNB). Christopher Addison died in 1951 before Churchill inscribed this volume, the third in his Second World War series, which would thus have been for Dorothy alone. The Second World War was Churchill's masterpiece, the single most important historical account of the conflict, and a major factor in Churchill being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. The publication dates of the UK editions were slightly preceded by the US editions. Kenneth O. Morgan, Portrait of a progressive: the Political Career of Christopher, Viscount Addison, 1980; Chris Wrigley, Winston Churchill A Biographical Companion, 2002. 6 volumes, octavo. Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in dark blue full morocco, titles gilt to spines, raised bands, single ruled gilt panel to compartments with rampant lion device gilt to the first, fifth and sixth, similar panel to boards, autograph block to front boards, arabesque roll inner gilt dentelles, burgundy endpapers, all edges gilt. A fine set.

First American editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece, preceding the British editions. Octavo, six volumes, original cloth, illustrated. The Hinge of Fate is an association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, "To Sylvia from Winston 1951." The recipient, Sylvia Henley was "one of those who had known Churchill best, and longest. a frequent guest at Chartwell" (Gilbert, p. 307). Along with Jock Colville, Henley was one of Churchill's most frequent Bezique opponents; Bezique was Churchill's favorite game, as he was an expert player. Each volume is fine in near fine dust jackets. Housed in the original publisher's wooden box. An exceptional association, uncommon signed and inscribed and in the original wooden box. "Winston Churchill himself affirmed that this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan). Named by Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century. It placed number one on the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century by National Review magazine.

Hardcover. First edition, first printing. This inscribed U.S. first edition of The Grand Alliance, the third volume of Winston S. Churchill s Second World War memoirs, represents a compelling convergence of lives. First, the recipient - Lady Davina Woodhouse, the daughter of Churchill s first great love, Pamela Plowden. Second, Davina s husband, Monty Woodhouse, who inhabits some of the history recounted in this book, and who would likewise prove integral to geopolitical events during Churchill s second and final premiership. Third is the man Davina did not marry, Anthony Eden, Churchill s long-time lieutenant and long-delayed, ill-fated successor as Prime Minister.The inscription, five lines inked in blue on the front free endpaper recto, reads "To | Davina | from | Winston | 1950".Condition of this inscribed copy approaches very good minus in a very good plus dust jacket. The red cloth binding remains bright and clean with minor shelf wear confined to extremities. The contents are respectably bright and clean. We find no previous ownership marks other than the author s presentation inscription. The front hinge is slightly tender, but nonetheless solidly intact with no threat to binding integrity. The pastedowns are mildly browned from the glue. Light spotting is confined to the page edges. The original topstain is faded and the head and tail bands dimpled. Head and tail bands, dated title page, copyright page, topstain, and binding are all consonant with first printing of the first edition, as is the unclipped, "$6.00" price on the dust jacket flap. The jacket is bright, clean, and complete. Light wear is primarily confined to the spine head and adjacent upper front face, front hinge, and front flap fold. The red spine panel is only lightly sunned. The jacket is protected beneath a clear, removable, archival cover.Lady Davidema "Davina" Katharine Cynthia Mary Millicent Bulwer-Lytton (1909-1995) was the daughter of Pamela Frances Audrey Bulwer-Lytton (née Plowden), Countess of Lytton (1874-1971). Winston Churchill met Pamela Plowden in India in late 1896. Pamela was Winston s "first great love". For several years, during his early career as an itinerant, adventure-seeking cavalry officer and war correspondent, "Churchill was obviously in love with this beautiful girl" and they maintained a robust and romantic correspondence. But in the end there was no union. In 1902 Pamela married Victor Bulwer-Lytton, 2nd Earl of Lytton. Churchill married later, in 1908. Winston and Pamela "remained on affectionate terms" and Winston "continued to write to her for the rest of his life including two sympathetic letters after the deaths of her sons: Anthony, the eldest, in a 1933 air crash and John, at El Alamein in 1942" while Winston was wartime prime minister. Davina, too, experienced a Second World War loss. Her husband was killed in France in May 1940 less than two weeks after Churchill became wartime prime minister. Churchill s political right hand and eventual successor, Robert Anthony Eden (1897-1977) had been a close friend of Davina s husband. Although married, Eden and his wife were increasingly estranged. After the death of Davina s husband, Eden and Davina found solace in one another and "her presence was to be a constant factor over the next five years." (Thorpe, The Life and Times of Anthony Eden, First Earl of Avon)But Eden eventually lost Davina to a Byronic war hero, Christopher Montague "Monty" Woodhouse (1917-2001). Ironically, the two met at Eden s home, to which Eden invited Monty for a wartime briefing in July 1944. Monty and Davina wed on 28 August 1945. Their marriage lasted half a century, until Davina s death. During Churchill s second and final postwar premiership, Monty played a significant role in advocating and precipitating the Iranian coup of 1953 and later served as a Member of Parliament.PLEASE NOTE THAT A CONSIDERABLY MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.Reference: Cohen A240.1(III).a, Woods/ICS A123(aa), Langworth p.258.

First UK editions, first impressions, inscribed by the author on the title page of Volume III: "To Ava from Winston S. Churchill 1955". The recipient was the political and social hostess Ava Anderson, Viscountess Waverley (1895-1974), who helped Churchill to warn the nation about German re-armament in the 1930s, and was closely linked to many of the leading players of Britain's wartime government. Ava's first husband was Ralph Wigram, head of the Central Department in 1935. Over many trips to Churchill's Chartwell home, when he was effectively exiled from government, the couple leaked him details of the scale of Germany's re-armament to Churchill, providing the evidence for him to attack the government's complacency. After Ralph's early death in 1936 Churchill continued a close and affectionate correspondence with Ava. In 1941 she married Sir John Anderson, Lord President of the Council and later Chancellor of the Exchequer in the wartime Cabinet. "She created for herself a role over four decades as a highly regarded hostess in political and cultural circles. Resilient in adversity, she brought warmth and contentment to John Anderson who was strongly protective of her. Forthright and astute, she was well suited to the position of political confidante, appreciated for her judgement and discretion as well as her lively personality. Churchill found her useful and Macmillan welcomed her sympathy and understanding. Intelligent, empathetic, witty, and outgoing, she was adept at eliciting information, but kept confidences to herself and could offer disinterested support, characteristics which substantiate the judgement that in her chosen sphere she 'probably exercise[d] more indirect influence than any woman of her generation' (The Times, 24 Dec 1974)" (ODNB). Churchill's masterpiece is the single most important historical account of the Second World War and a major factor in him being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. As Max Beloff observed, there was no statesman of the 20th century "whose retrospective accounts of the great events in which he has taken part have so dominated subsequent historical thinking". Churchill was contractually obliged to allow the US editions to be published first, but he treated the Cassell editions as definitive and reserved his final proof corrections for them. Provenance: the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A240.4; Woods A123(b). 6 volumes, octavo. Original black cloth, spines lettered in gilt, grey endpapers decorated with a design that alternates a lion rampant with the initials W.S.C., top edges pink. With typographical dust jackets with background design to match endpapers. Maps and diagrams, some folding. Publisher's announcement loosely inserted in vol. V. Some light spotting to edges; jackets with minor edge wear and a few closed tears, spine panels sunned, unclipped: a very good set in like jackets.

First Brazilian editions, eight of the ten volumes signed or inscribed by Winston Churchill. In fact what is here is: "Volumes I to IV in 6 parts, Volumes III and IV are in two parts each, and volume VI which is in two parts, a total of 8 parts. So we are lacking Volume V, presumed to be in two parts. There are also unsigned duplicates of Volumes I & II. Cohen states in his bibliography that despite slow sales "all twelve volumes were in fact issued", but it seems unlikely that the fifth volume would have required 4 volumes to complete, so we are presuming that the set in fact completed in 10 parts. I have tried to clarify this with reference to institutional listings for the edition, but as WorldCat locates just a single copy of Volume I - at the University of Toronto - this has proved impossible. A very scarce edition. The inscriptions in the eight volumes are as follow; "Inscribed by Winston Churchill 1948" in the first volume; "Winston S. Churchill, 1950" in the second; the 3rd and 4th, in two volumes each, are signed in each part with an abbreviated signature "WSChurchill" that he sometimes used when signing large numbers at a sitting; volume VI is signed, "Winston S. Churchill, 1956" in the first part, and "WSChurchill 1956" in the second." From the library of Emery Reves, Churchill's literary agent. Reves had been instrumental in promoting Churchill's pre-war international profile by the worldwide syndication of many of his prophetic articles during the late 1930s. Their association blossomed again when Reves negotiated the sale of the US rights for The Second World War, and purchased the international rights himself, selling serialization to 27 newspapers across the globe and securing book rights in 11 European countries. Churchill said of this feat: "I am sure that no one could have done it except Reves who buzzed around the world for nearly a year making contracts." They subsequently worked closely together on the book itself, Reves having what Martin Gilbert has described as "considerable editorial input". 10 volumes only (of 12, lacking pts. 9-10), octavo. Original printed paper wrappers. A little wear to spine ends, one volume slightly split at top of front joint, an excellent set.

Hardcover in Dust Jackets. Condition: Very Good. This very good set of First English editions in dust jackets is signed in Volume III on the half-title page: "Inscribed for Norman McGowan, Winston S. Churchill, 1951." NORMAN McGOWAN served as Winston Churchill's valet from 1949 until retiring in 1952. He subsequently published a memoir, MY YEARS WITH CHURCHILL, in 1958. A First English edition copy of that book (with M[a]cgowan's name misspelled on the dust jacket) is included here, preserved in a blue quarter-leather solander (stamped: THE SECOND WORLD WAR / Vol. III on the spine). Winston Churchill apparently presented his valet with signed copies of other volumes of THE SECOND WORLD WAR; in MY YEARS WITH CHURCHILL there is a photo of Mr. McGowan reading a signed First American edition copy of Volume IV. The dust jackets of this First English set are exceptionally bright on the faces, and significantly unfaded on the traditionally fade-prone spines. Volume I jacket spine has darkened with age but the spine type is still legible. There is edge-wear at the jacket spine heads of all volumes and Volumes IV-VI are price-clipped. The books are all fine, the black cloth clean and the bindings tight. The red topstains have faded variably, with the exception of very bright Volumes V and VI. The contents are fine, with foxing to the fore-edges only. A lovely set overall with an intimate provenance. First English Edition Set (Cohen A240.4[I-VI].a) (Woods A123ba). Signed.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Rare First English Edition, First Printing Published by Cassell & Co., LTD (London * Toronto * Melbourne * Sydney) Volume I - 1948 - The Gathering Storm Volume II - 1949 - Their Finest Hour Volume III - 1950 - The Grand Alliance Volume IV - 1951 - The Hinge of Fate Volume V - 1952 - Closing the Ring Volume VI - 1954 - Triumph and Tragedy All dust jackets are original and in very good condition. Books themselves are also in very good condition. Volumes I, II and VI have some slight foxing on the page edges. Volume III has the following in ink on the first blank page, "M. Duion. Purchased July 1950." Volume II has the name J. R. Rudolph on the first end page. Otherwise, these books are in near fine condition with those slight exceptions. Very rare set and in very good condition. They have been well cared for. Handsome historic set. See photo of the dust jacket front flap where the publisher states that this should be five or six volumes as the work unfolds. Further proof that this is the first edition and not a reprint. Bound in the traditional Moroccan cord binding style. Free shipping and insurance within the U.S. (BR) 339.

First American editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, original cloth, illustrated. Triumph and Tragedy is boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, "From Winston S. Churchill, 1954." Each volume is fine in near fine dust jackets. An exceptional set, uncommon signed. "Winston Churchill himself affirmed that this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan). Named by Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century. It placed number one on the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century by National Review magazine.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. Presented is a first edition set of The Second World War. This is Winston S. Churchill s complete six-volume classic history of the Second World War, to include: The Gathering Storm, Their Finest Hour, The Grand Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, Closing the Ring, and Triumph and Tragedy. The six volumes were published by Cassell & Co. Ltd. in London, from 1948 to 1954. Very good condition. All first edition books are presented in their original hardcover boards and dust jackets. Light scattered foxing to textblock edges, minor toning to dust jacket edges, and spines darkened. Small repairs made to the dust jackets. New mylar to cover the dust jackets. All books are housed in a custom-made cloth slipcase with an image of Winston Churchill and a gilt embossed signature on the front. Slipcase is lined and presented with a satin pull ribbon.

First edition, second issue of the first volume of Churchill's masterpiece, The Second World War with the errata slip tipped into page 610. Octavo, bound in full 20th century crushed levant morocco by Zaehnsdorf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt turn-ins and inner denelles stamp-signed by Zaehnsdorf, marbeld endpapers, all edges gilt, errata slip tipped into page 610. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, "Winston S. Churchill 1955." Gilt inscription to the spine, "Obsequio de Cesar Guillen Al Sindicato de Periodistas July 1955." In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. "The Gathering Storm," the inaugural volume of Winston Churchill's seminal work, "The Second World War," presents a meticulously researched and analytically rigorous examination of the geopolitical landscape preceding the global conflict. Published in 1948, Churchill, drawing extensively from his tenure as Britain's Prime Minister during the war, navigates the intricate web of political maneuverings, diplomatic failures, and ideological tensions that precipitated the outbreak of hostilities. Through a dispassionate lens, Churchill scrutinizes the shortcomings of leadership and policy that allowed totalitarian ambitions to thrive unchecked, offering incisive commentary on the complexities of international relations. Grounded in historical documentation and personal observations, "The Gathering Storm" serves as a cornerstone in the study of the prelude to World War II, providing invaluable insights into the mechanisms of power, diplomacy, and the human condition amidst a turbulent era of upheaval and uncertainty.

First Dutch trade edition, inscribed by the author, volume 1 "Inscribed for Emery Reves by Winston S. Churchill, 1948", volumes 2 and 3 signed and dated 1949, volume 5 signed "WSChurchill", the others unsigned; from the library of Emery Reves, Churchill's literary agent. Reves had been instrumental in promoting Churchill's pre-war international profile by the worldwide syndication of many of his prophetic articles during the late 1930s. Their association blossomed again when Reves negotiated the sale of the US rights for The Second World War, and purchased the international rights himself, selling serialization to 27 newspapers across the globe and securing book rights in 11 European countries. Churchill said of this feat: "I am sure that no one could have done it except Reves who buzzed around the world for nearly a year making contracts." They subsequently worked closely together on the book itself, Reves having what Martin Gilbert has described as "considerable editorial input". 10 volumes, octavo. Original black cloth, spines lettered gilt on red panels, spines and covers lettered gilt. With the variously coloured pictorial dust jackets. Photographic illustrations throughout; titles printed in blue and black. Slightly rubbing to jacket extremities; an excellent set.

Hardcover in Dust Jackets. Condition: Very Good. This virtually mint First American edition set is in astonishing condition, as fresh as the day it was published, crisp and bright, particularly the fade-prone spines, which are here entirely unfaded. Each pristine volume is preserved intact in individual red half-leather cloth solanders lettered in gilt on the spines. Volume I has a hint of jacket flap toning to the endpapers, else fine. Volume II dust jacket has very faint rubs from case-wear. Volume IV dust jacket is price-clipped and exhibits case-wear that has rubbed the front jacket hinge just a bit. Volume V dust jacket is also price-clipped and exhibits faint rubs from case-wear. The books and solanders are otherwise mint in every respect. First American Edition Set (Cohen A240.3[I-VI]) (Woods A123aa).

First editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, bound in full morocco by The Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel of each volume, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation. "Winston Churchill himself affirmed that this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan). Named by Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century. It placed number one on the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century by National Review magazine.

First editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes, bound in full morocco by The Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles, ruling and tooling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel of each volume, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation. "Winston Churchill himself affirmed that this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan). Named by Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century. It placed number one on the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century by National Review magazine.

3/4 leather. First edition, first printing. This magnificent set is the printer s special presentation binding of the U.S. first edition, first printing of The Second World War, Winston Churchill's history of the epic 20th century struggle that was so indelibly stamped by his leadership. This is the only such set we have encountered, apparently unknown to both the collecting community and Churchill s bibliographers.The bindings are compelling in both craftsmanship and appearance, featuring three-quarter brown Morocco goatskin with marbled paper-cover boards. The spines feature gilt-ruled compartments separated by raised and gilt-decorated spine bands. The covers feature gilt-ruled transitions. The contents are bound with gilt top edges, red and gold silk head and tail bands, and endpapers matching the marbled paper of the boards. The set is housed in a single, stout, brown cloth-covered slipcase with individual compartments for each volume, each compartment fitted with a brown ribbon pull to facilitate extraction of the volume within.Condition approaches near fine. The bindings are square, tight, clean, and unfaded, showing only superficial wear to the joints, likely resulting from their snug fit within the slipcase. The first printing contents are bright, clean, and crisp with no spotting or age toning. The original slipcase shows scuffing, particularly to the bottom surface, and has lost two of the original six ribbon pulls, but is otherwise intact, and respectably clean.This U.S. first edition preceded its British counterpart and is hence the true first edition, published in six volumes between October 1948 and November 1953. Kingsport Press commissioned this special presentation binding. A printed plate dated "April 9, 1954" reads: "Mr. C. Wilhelm | Vice President of Kingsport Press | has presented this deluxe-bound set of | Winston Churchill s Memoirs to | MR. H. H. HORTON | Distribution of the remaining sets | was as follows: | 2 to Sir Winston S. Churchill | 1 to Pres. of Houghton Mifflin, Publishers | 1 to Pres. of Book-of-the-Month Club | 1 to Rutgers University Press Library | 1 retained by Mr. Wilhelm for his own | library." The Kingsport Press presentation plate, now laid in, was originally affixed to the Vol. I front free endpaper recto, evidenced by matching glue residue on the plate verso and ffep. The only other previous ownership artefact in the set is a gift inscription inked on the recto of the blank preceding the Vol. I title page: "With respect and affection | for my good friend | Hal Horton! | Sincerely | "Curley" Wilhelm | 4-9-54". Horton is unknown to us, but we may presume he was well-regarded by senior staff at Kingsport Press; we have also encountered a specially bound presentation set of A History of the English-Speaking Peoples (also printed by Kingsport Press and specially bound by Kingsport) presented to Mr. Horton, identified therein as "Harold H. Horton".Tennessee-based Kingsport press was one of four printers of the first edition. Churchill s bibliographer, Ron Cohen, explains "Production was divided among four printers: the Riverside Press, the Haddon Craftsmen, the Kingsport Press and H. Wolff all plates were struck from the typesetting ordered by Houghton Mifflin and the title-page versos generally indicate which printers produced each volume". (Vol. I, A240.1(I).a, p.718) In the case of this set, the title page versos of five of the volumes indicate that they were printed by Kingsport Press, the first Volume somewhat ironically the one with the Kingsport Press presentation plate and inscription indicating that it was printed by "The Haddon Craftsmen".The rights to publish Churchill s war memoirs has been called "perhaps the greatest coup of Twentieth Century publishing". For Kingsport Press, the commission to print this iconic work brought not just commercial value, but reputational prestige which may help explain why the printer undertook this special binding.Reference: Cohen A240.4(I-VI).a, Woods/ICS A123(ba), Langworth p.264.

Rare uncorrected proof copies of the final two volumes of Churchill's history of the Second World War. The proofs are very similar to the eventual published versions, the chief difference being the absence of folding maps and the index. Proof copies are encountered with some regularity for some of Churchill's books, including Marlborough and History of the English-Speaking Peoples, but proof copies of the Second World War are very rare. It seems that unlike the former, copies were not circulated to reviewers and the trade, and copies were only made for internal use at the publisher. There is no indication of publication date and price on the wrappers, unlike other Churchill proofs sent into the trade. Provenance: the collection of Steve Forbes. 2 volumes, octavo. Original grey or brown wrappers, each lettered in black on spine and front cover. Each housed in red cloth slipcase. Vol. V inscribed "uncorrected proof" on the front wrapper and the title page. Both with general handling rubbing and creasing; Vol. V front joint with short split at head of and repaired split at foot; vol. VI with short split at head of front joint and small white mark to front wrapper. Very good copies.

Finely bound set of the major works of Churchill. Octavo, 25 volumes, bound in full dark red pebble grained leather with black title panels on spines, raised bands with the initial WSC, elaborate border to the front panel, all edges are gilt, silk endpapers, illustrated with photographs and maps, frontispiece plates. In fine condition. Winston S. Churchill was a British statesman, soldier, and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955. Apart from two years between 1922 and 1924, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1900 to 1964 and represented a total of five constituencies. Ideologically an economic liberal and imperialist, he was for most of his career a member of the Conservative Party, which he led from 1940 to 1955. He was a member of the Liberal Party from 1904 to 1924.

Leather Bound. Condition: Very good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very good. First Edition. First Edition. Leather Bound. H: 8 1/4", D: 5 3/4", W: 1 3/4" 6 Volumes. Winston Churchill, The Second World War. First Edition. Bound in full purple morocco with the covers and raised band spines displaying gilt-tooling. All edges gilt with marbled endpapers. London: Cassel & Co., 1950.

First editions in Swedish, volumes I, III, and VI only of the complete set. Each volume inscribed by Churchill on the half-title. Volume I: "Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill 1948 for Emery Reves"; Volume III signed and dated 1950; Volume VI signed and dated 1955. From the library of Emery Reves, Churchill's literary agent. Reves had been instrumental in promoting Churchill's pre-war international profile by the worldwide syndication of many of his prophetic articles during the late 1930s. Their association blossomed again when Reves negotiated the sale of the US rights for The Second World War, and purchased the international rights himself, selling serialization to 27 newspapers across the globe and securing book rights in 11 European countries. Churchill said of this feat: "I am sure that no one could have done it except Reves who buzzed around the world for nearly a year making contracts." They subsequently worked closely together on the book itself, Reves having what Martin Gilbert has described as "considerable editorial input". 3 volumes (only, of 6), octavo. First two volumes in publishers' brown morocco-grain half cloth, marbled sides, spines lettered gilt; last volume in full red morocco gilt (for presentation?), all edges gilt; all volumes in the printed dust jackets. Some shelf-wear to jackets, an excellent set.

First UK editions, first impressions, handsomely bound for the luxury purveyors Asprey. Churchill's masterpiece is the single most important historical account of the Second World War, and a major factor in Churchill being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953. As Max Beloff observed, there was no statesman of the 20th century "whose retrospective accounts of the great events in which he has taken part have so dominated subsequent historical thinking". Churchill was contractually obliged to allow the US editions to be published first, but he treated the UK editions as definitive and reserved his final proof corrections for them. Cohen A240.4; Woods A123(b). 6 volumes, octavo (205 x 132 mm). Late 20th-century red morocco for Asprey, spines lettered in gilt, gilt rule to compartments, covers, and turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Maps and diagrams, some folding. A fine set.

Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. 1st Edition. London: Cassell & Co. Ltd., 1948 - 1954. First Edition, First Impression of each volume. CHURCHILL, Winston. Six volumes, beautifully bound in half leather by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with the binder s stamp to the reverse of the front free end papers. The Second World War, First Editions of: Vol I The Gathering Storm, 1948, xv, 527pp; Vol II Their Finest Hour, 1949, xvii, 556pp; Vol III The Grand Alliance, 1950, xviii, 629pp; Vol IV The Hinge of Fate, 1951, xviii, 743pp; Vol V Closing the Ring, 1952, x, 558pp; Vol VI Triumph and Tragedy, 1954, xvii, 584pp. London: Cassell, (1948-54). Six volumes. Octavo, modern half coarse grain morocco gilt binding, raised bands, spine compartments gilt-lined with titles to the second and third compartments, top page edges gilt, others trimmed, cloth boards and marbled paper paste downs and end papers. First English editions of Churchill s WWII masterpiece, part history and part memoir, written after he lost re-election as Prime Minister, handsomely bound. The six volumes were published separately between 1948 and 1954. With the Second World War, Churchill "pulled himself back from humiliating defeat in 1945, using all his skills as a writer and politician to make his fortune, secure his reputation, and win a second term in Downing Street" (Reynolds, xxiii). "Winston himself affirmed that 'this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan, 175). Although preceded by the American editions, the English editions are generally preferred for their profusion of diagrams, maps, and facsimile documents. Approximately 8 ½ inches tall (six volumes). Condition Report Externally Spine very good condition fine leather binding. Joints very good condition. Corners very good condition. Boards very good condition cloth boards, marks and scratches, mostly to the cloth. Page edges very good condition foxing to the page edges, top edge gilt. See above and photos. Internally Hinges very good condition. Paste downs very good condition marbled. Free end papers very good condition marbled. Title very good condition minor foxing. Pages very good condition minor foxing and marks, indentation to the fore-edge margin from the half title to page 25 of Vol III, creasing caused by the publishing process to page 525-554 of Vol IV . Binding very good condition solid and strong, fine leather binding. See photos. Publisher: see above. Publication Date: 1948-1954. Binding: Hardback.

First Italian editions, limited issue, the first two volumes only, inscribed by Churchill to his literary agent on the first blank of volume I, "Inscribed for Emery Reves by Winston S. Churchill, 1948"; numbers 12 and 13 respectively of 30 sets signed by the publisher. Reves was instrumental in promoting Churchill's pre-war international profile by the worldwide syndication of many of his prophetic articles during the late 1930s. Their association blossomed again when Reves negotiated the sale of the US rights for The Second World War, and purchased the international rights himself, selling serialization to 27 newspapers across the globe and securing book rights in 11 European countries. Churchill said of this feat: "I am sure that no one could have done it except Reves who buzzed around the world for nearly a year making contracts." They subsequently worked closely together on the book itself, Reves having what Martin Gilbert has described as "considerable editorial input". Mondadori, in keeping with both his anti-Fascist stance and his eye for commercial opportunity was one of the first to sign an agreement with Reves, and published just a week or so after Houghton, Mifflin put out Volume I in the USA, some three months ahead of Cassell's UK edition. The total print run comprised just 1,030 sets. 2 volumes only (of 12), octavo. Original blue leather-grain cloth, front cover blocked in blind with author's name, spines lettered in blue on gilt-blocked ground, top edges gilt, first volume in original marbled paper slipcase. Illustrated with plates and maps throughout. Front joint of part II splitting, edges a little rubbed, offsetting to verso of front free endpaper and half-title from inscription; slipcase rubbed, lower joint cracked but holding: overall in very good condition.

No Binding. Condition: Very Good. This is an original wartime British propaganda poster featuring a message from the Prime Minister exhorting both wartime thrift and the purchase of war bonds. This 20 x 15 inch poster (50.8 x 38.1 cm) features a striking orange background, on the upper portion of which is a head-and-bowtie photographic image of Winston Churchill beside the words, "MESSAGE from the PRIME MINISTER". Below, on a simulation of Churchill s 10 Downing Street Stationery bearing his signature, reads the message, "Our huge war expenditure can only in part be met from taxation; money from loans must therefore help to fill the gap. There is thus a double duty for every citizen, whether in private or in business life, of careful economy in expenditure and of lending the resulting savings to the State. One way of discharging this double duty is through the purchase of National War Bonds and I cordially wish the campaign every success." At the bottom right of the poster is the publishing information, "Issued by the National Savings Committee London; Scottish Savings Committee, Edinburgh, Ulster Savings Committee, Belfast." The poster is float mounted on a black background behind UV filtering acrylic in a 24.5 x 19.5 inch (62.2 x 49.5 cm) black-stained wood frame with an orange-highlighted raised border complementing the hues of the poster. This poster is undated, but likely from late 1940. The text of the "message from the Prime Minister" reproduced in this poster appeared in newspapers on 30 September 1940 in support of a war bonds campaign. Condition is very good minus, with one vertical and three horizontal folds (plausibly from original mailing) and some light bruising to the paper at the extremities. The poster retains its vibrant orange color. This poster is a rare survivor; we locate only one other example at Stanford University s Hoover Institution. When Churchill became Prime Minister on 10 May 1940, the war for Britain was not so much a struggle for victory as a struggle to survive. Churchill s first year in office saw, among other near-calamities, the Battle of the Atlantic, the fall of France, evacuation at Dunkirk, and the Battle of Britain, and the possibility of Nazi invasion of Britain was a genuine concern. One of the ways in which the nation faced the vast financial and material challenges of the war was issuance of war bonds. War Savings Certificates, or War Bonds, had been introduced during the First World War, when the National Savings Movement (NSM) was formed to encourage the people of Britain to "save and prosper". The scheme saw massive growth during the Second world War, when the War Savings Campaign was set up by the War Office, which restructured and strengthened the committees extant from the NSM. Campaigns, announced with posters such as this, were established to raise money for airplanes, tanks, and munitions, and local volunteers were issued awards for their service.

Hardcover. Condition: Fine. 1st Edition. Author: Churchill, Winston S Publisher: Cassell & Co 1948 Condition: A lovely clean full set in Fine condition. Size: 220 mm x 150 mm Binding: Beautifully bound in full red goatskin with hand sewn endbands. All edges gilt. Gold Churchill signature to upper board with gold title to spine. Presented neatly in a black cloth slipcase. Description: Full 6 volume set. First edition, first printing. Written between 1948 - 1953, this stands as the best of history; written as it was made, by the man who made it. Churchill himself stating, "I am perhaps the only man who has passed through both the two supreme cataclysms of recorded history in high Cabinet office. I was for more than five years in this second struggle with Germany the Head of His Majesty's government. I write, therefore, from a different standpoint and with more authority than was possible in my earlier books." Churchill himself made the disclaimer, "I do not describe it as history. it is a contribution to history." The Gathering Storm - Churchill's critical observations on the settlement of World War I and its place in the causes of the Second World War. Containing letters and memoranda from the British government--of which Churchill was part--as the country plunged unprepared into war. Their Finest Hour - An enthralling account of key events and battles from May to December 1940 as Britain stood isolated while Nazi Germany pursued its seemingly unconquerable war path - the fall of France, Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain, the horrors of the Blitz and Hitler's plans to invade and crush Russia, his sole ally in Europe. The Great Alliance - The momentous events of 1941 surrounding America's entry into the War and Hitler's march on Russia - the continuing onslaught on British civilians during the Blitz, Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and the alliance between Britain and America that shaped the outcome of the War. The Hinge Of Fate - How the tide of the war gradually turned for Britain and its allies from constant defeat to almost unbroken successes - Japan's successful assault on the Pacific, Britain's attempts to aid Russia and the defeat of Rommel at the Battle of Alamein. Closing The Ring - chronicles the period between June 1943 and July 1944 as the Allies consolidated their gains towards a drive to victory - the fall of Mussolini, Hitler's 'secret weapon', the mounting air offensive on Germany, strategies to defeat Japan and the plans for D Day. Triumph And Tragedy - Triumph and Tragedy recounts the dramatic months as the War drew to a close - the Normandy landings, the liberation of Western Europe, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the surrender of Germany and Japan. Ref: CON/1363 HEAVY ITEM: Will incur extra postage charge.

First UK edition, first printing. Six volumes. Recent full navy blue morocco with titles in gilt to the spine and a facsimile of Churchill's signature in gilt to the upper board of each volume. Hand-sewn endbands. All edges gilt. Illustrated with maps (some folding) and diagrams throughout. A fine set, the bindings clean and square, the contents are clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Housed in a blue cloth slipcase. A beautifully bound first edition of the British Prime Minister's monumental, highly readable history of the Second World War. (Cohen A240.4; Woods A123(b)). Further details and images for any of the items listed are available on request. Lucius Books welcomes direct contact with our customers.

First editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. In fine condition. "Winston Churchill himself affirmed that this is not history: this is my case" (Holmes, 285). Churchill was re-elected to the post of Prime Minister in 1951. "The Second World War is a great work of literature, combining narrative, historical imagination and moral precept in a form that bears comparison with that of the original master chronicler, Thucydides. It was wholly appropriate that in 1953 Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature" (Keegan). Named by Modern Library as one of the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century. It placed number one on the 100 best non-fiction books of the twentieth century by National Review magazine.

6 vols. 8vo. First English edition. First English edition. 6 vols. 8vo. Finely bound first editions of Winston Churchill's masterpiece. Previously serialized in London's Daily Telegraph, this may be regarded as Churchill's magnum opus; it has been translated into some 20 languages. Its six volumes span the period from the end of the First World War to July 1945, and Churchill's own role in it cannot be overstated. Following the publication of the final volume in 1953, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature, "for his mastery of historical and biographical description as well as for brilliant oratory in defending exalted human values". Woods A123(b); Holmes, 285 Half-red morocco and marbled paper sides, top edge tinted, spotting to edges, otherwise finePhoto.