Description

COMPLETE SEVEN-VOLUME COLLECTION OF FIRST EDITIONS OF CHURCHILL’S WWII SPEECHES, 1941-46, INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL IN THE FIRST VOLUME SHORTLY AFTER THE ALLIED VICTORY

CHURCHILL, Winston S. Collection of World War II speeches: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the Beginning; Onwards to Victory; The Dawn of Liberation; Victory; Secret Session Speeches. London: Cassell, (1941-46). Together, seven volumes. Octavo, original cloth, original dust jackets.    

First editions of Churchill’s separately published World War II speeches, in original dust jackets, inscribed by Churchill in the first volume, Into Battle, on the front free endpaper: “Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill, 1946.”

Churchill’s war speeches, published between 1941 and 1946, “constitute a contemporary history of the war which is as lively as it is authoritative; and, so far as contemporary history is of value, they may be said to be the last word upon the war” (Randolph S. Churchill). With 50 half-tone photographic plates, including frontispieces. Into Battle second state, with page number “78” present. The Unrelenting Struggle first state, with page number “281” irregular; in first printing dust jacket referring to the “Eighth Edition” of Into Battle on the front flap. Victory second state, with page number “177” correctly printed. Secret Session Speeches first English edition, preceded by the American edition. Cohen A142.1.b; A172.1.b; A183.1.a; A194.1.a; A214.1.a; A223.1.b; A227.2.a. Ink gift inscription dated the year of publication (1942) in The Unrelenting Struggle.

Some foxing to endpapers and edges, text generally clean, cloth fine (spine of Into Battle mildly toned). Dust jackets generally near-fine, with small chip to front panel of The Unrelenting Struggle and two shallow chips to spine head of Into Battle. Very scarce and quite desirable inscribed.