Description

MY AFRICAN JOURNEY, INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL AND IN ORIGINAL PICTORIAL CLOTH

CHURCHILL, Winston. My African Journey. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1908. Octavo, original pictorial red cloth, uncut.

First edition of this early Churchill work, with three full-page maps and over 60 photographs, many taken by Churchill, inscribed on the front flyleaf, “Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill, November 1957.”

“As undersecretary of State for the Colonies in 1907,” Churchill traveled to Africa on a tour of inspection? [he] saw the advantages of producing a travelogue on Britain’s valuable possessions in East Africa. Among these, Churchill waxes most eloquent on Uganda, which he calls ‘a pearl” (Langworth, 80). My African Journey “includes photographs allegedly taken by Churchill, the only such appearance in the canon; the text is important because it shows Churchill raising prescient questions involving the betterment of the East African population” (Langworth, 80). Cohen A27.1. Langworth, 80-83. Woods A12. Armorial bookplate for Hugh Gurney Barclay, one of the founders of Barclays Bank. Bookseller ticket.

Occasional scattered foxing to text, as often. Lightest fading to spine and minute wear to spine ends of fresh, bright, nearly fine cloth. A near-fine copy, rare inscribed and with fine provenance.