Marlborough His Life and Times by Winston Churchill, Signed (9 results)

The opening volumes of Churchill's great biography, both signed and dated 1943 on the front free endpaper by Churchill during the Quebec Conference. Mounted to the front pastedown of volume I is a typed letter signed from Clementine Churchill, 23 August 1943 on The Citadel, Quebec stationery: "My dear Mrs. Carrington, Thank you very much for sending me the memorandum, which I will treat as confidential. Here are the books inscribed by Winston. Yours very sincerely, Clementine S. Churchill". The Churchills attended the First Quebec Conference, codenamed Quadrant, to plan Operation Overlord. The recipient of these volumes was Gwendoline Carrington, the wife of Philip Carrington, Anglican Archbishop of Quebec. They were guests at a state dinner attended by Churchill, Roosevelt, and the Canadian premier Mackenzie King on 19 August at the Citadel, where the conference was held. The memorandum to which Clementine refers in her letter may have been related to Archbishop Carrington's public criticism of Roosevelt and Churchill's failure to engage with Quebec locals. He levelled the charge in his cathedral sermon on 22 August, which garnered international attention ("Bishop of Quebec deplores secrecy", in The New York Times, 23 August 1943). Gwendoline has written her name on the front free endpaper of Volume I alongside her date of acquisition, Christmas 1933, and the front pastedown of volume II. She later re-presented the volumes, inscribing on each rear pastedown "Presented by Mrs Carrington to Imogen Thomas August 9 1971 with love from Aunt Gwen". The signature of Imogen Thomas dated 29 July 1975 is on the front free endpaper verso of the first volume, and front pastedown of the second, and the blindstamp of Bishopthorpe, Quebec is on both front free endpapers. Churchill's biography of the first Duke of Marlborough was published in four volumes between 1933 and 1938. Here, volume I is the first edition, second printing (published the same month as the first), vol. II is the first Canadian edition (issued from the sheets of the first British edition). Provenance: the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A97.2(I).b. & A97.3. 2 volumes, large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt. Spines a little sunned, vol. I a very good copy, head of spine of vol. II worn with loss, front inner hinge of same split, a poor copy.

First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the month of publication "To Ernest Poulter from Winston S. Churchill Oct 1933". Poulter supplied Churchill with the print, "The Mauritshuis at the Hague", which is reproduced facing page 540, with Poulter acknowledged. Churchill's biography "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Provenance: Sotheby's, 16 December 1974, lot 139; the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A97.2(I).a. Large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front cover, top edge gilt. Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Slight sunning to spine and extremities as often, light foxing. A very good copy.

First edition of Churchill's magisterial biography of his notable ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, original cloth, top edge gilt, illustrated with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. Association copy, inscribed by Winston Churchill on the front free endpaper of volume IV, "To Maurice Ashley from Winston Churchill August 1938." The recipient, Maurice Ashley worked as a research assistant to Winston Churchill for four years during which he was working on the Marlborough biography. Ashley is also the author of Churchill as Historian (1968), which discusses how Churchill approached historical research. Each volume is very good in a very good dust jacket. Vol. I with a price-clipped dust jacket. An exceptional example. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn't win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England's diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. "The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science." - Leo Strauss, University of Chicago "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other" (Henry Steele Commager). â Though it was a commissioned work, Churchill would not have invested nearly a million words and ten years had it not had special significance for him. For he wrote about a man who was not only his ancestor, an invincible general, the first of what became the Spencer-Churchill dukes of Marlborough, and a maker of modern Britain, but also a supreme example of heroism in the two vocations which mainly interested Churchill and in which ultimate triumph seemed to have eluded himâ " politics and war makingâ (Wiedhorn, 110). â It may be his greatest book. To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough. Only in its pages can one glean an understanding of the root of the speeches which inspired Britain to stand when she had little to stand withâ (Langworth, 164).

3/4 Crushed Tan Morocco Gilt. Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL on front blank of Volume I. Magnificently bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in 3/4 crushed tan morocco over marbled boards. Spine in six compartments lettered and ruled in gilt; t.e.g. Some very light rubbing otherwise near fine. Illustrated with maps, plans and facsimile documents. One million words long and ten years in the making, Churchill's Marlborough stands as both a literary and historical masterpiece. Size: 8vo. By the Author.

Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. No Jacket. 1st Edition. First Edition:First Printing:A 4 Volume Fine/Near Fine Signed Limited Edition set bound by Leighton Straker Ltd in full orange morocco with five raised bands to the spine, spine decorated with gilt lettering,Marlborough family arms in gilt to the front board, top of pages gilt, marbled endpapers.This SIGNED Limited Edition is one of only 155 sets produced of which only 150 sets were for sale.Volume 1 is signed by Churchill on the Limited Edition page and this set is numbered 48. Book Condition:Volume 1:A Near Fine copy, very gently rubbed top and bottom of the spine, top two corners gently rubbed, top and bottom edge of spine very gently toned, signed by Churchill without dedication to the Limited Edition page, small sticker on front paste down of William Henry Abbey a famous Brewer.Industrialist and Landowner, internally very clean and bright, tight binding.Volume 2:A Fine copy, top two corners very gently rubbed, small sticker on front paste down of William Henry Abbey, internally very clean and bright, tight binding.Volume 3:A Fine copy, very gently bumped top and bottom of the spine, very small mark to back board, internally very clean and bright, tight binding.Volume 4:A Fine copy, internally very clean and bright tight binding. This is the only SIGNED Limited Trade Edition in all of Churchill's works and one of only two publishers leather bound First Edition sets.Overall an exceptional Fine/Near Fine 4 Volume Signed Limited First Edition set.The Marlborough set is one million words long and took Churchill ten years to produce and it is certainly Churchill's greatest biography and some say perhaps his greatest ever works. Free UK and International Shipping on this book set. Signed by Author(s).

Signed limited edition of Churchill's magisterial biography of his notable ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; Churchill's only work produced as a signed limited edition. Quarto, 4 volumes in the original publisher's full morocco bound by Leighton-Straker with gilt Marlborough family crest to the front panel of each volume, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. One of one hundred and fifty-five numbered copies signed by the author of which one hundred and five were for sale, this is number 30. Provenance: from the library of Sidney Thomson Fisher with bookplate to each pastedown. In near fine condition. An exceptional set. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn't win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England's diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. "The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science." - Leo Strauss, University of Chicago "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other" (Henry Steele Commager). â Though it was a commissioned work, Churchill would not have invested nearly a million words and ten years had it not had special significance for him. For he wrote about a man who was not only his ancestor, an invincible general, the first of what became the Spencer-Churchill dukes of Marlborough, and a maker of modern Britain, but also a supreme example of heroism in the two vocations which mainly interested Churchill and in which ultimate triumph seemed to have eluded himâ " politics and war makingâ (Wiedhorn, 110). â It may be his greatest book. To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough. Only in its pages can one glean an understanding of the root of the speeches which inspired Britain to stand when she had little to stand withâ (Langworth, 164).

First edition, signed limited issue, number 55 of 155 copies signed by the author. This is the only signed limited issue of any of Churchill's writings; few sets retain the original slipcases, fewer still in such nice condition. Churchill's ancestor the 1st Duke of Marlborough led allied forces to victory against Louis XIV. Churchill worked on his biography for almost a decade, and was given exclusive access to the Blenheim archives to research the book. On publication, the work "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth, pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a). 4 volumes, large octavo. Original orange Niger goatskin by Leighton-Straker, spines lettered in gilt with single gilt rule at head and tail, raised bands bracketed by rules in blind, Marlborough's arms in gilt to front covers, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. In the original plain card slipcases with printed paper labels to the backs, described by Cohen as "merely cardboard shipping cases. generally. discarded". Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Faint discolouration at spine ends, slipcases lightly rubbed but far fresher than usual, a near-fine set.

Full leather. This signed, limited, and finely bound publisher's presentation set of Churchill's Marlborough would be remarkable for condition alone, but this is also one of just five unnumbered sets reserved by the publisher. This is the only one of the five known to be hand-marked as "Presentation". Churchill signed just below the limitation statement "Winston S. Churchill". But this copy is also inscribed by the publisher. Just above Churchill s signature in the space where the limitation number would normally be written, the word "Presentation" is inked. On the half title, in four lines in the publisher s hand, is inked the inscription "To Steve | from | George | 1933." Condition is excellent, approaching near fine. The spines are only lightly sunned, that of Volume I showing a few freckles. Light spotting appears primarily confined to the untrimmed fore edges, only occasionally and lightly encroaching into the text blocks. The card slipcases are fully intact with only light shelf wear, the back of the Volume II case slightly spotted. As kindly confirmed by the Harrap family, "George" is George Steward Harrap, son of Harrap s founder, George Godfrey Harrap, who died in 1938, the year the fourth and final volume of Marlborough was published. George Steward Harrap s son stated it "highly likely" that "Steve" was the artist and illustrator Stephen Frederick Gooden R.A., R.E., C.B.E. (1892-1955), a close friend of the younger Harrap. Gooden not only illustrated a number of Harrap books notably their Aesop and Rubaiyat but also designed the elder Harrap s bookplate, featuring a winged horse clearing the bar of an "H". This was a clever conception, since a colloquial British term for horse was "gee-gee", these being the initials of George Godfrey. Churchill s Marlborough is the only work by Churchill for which the publisher issued a signed, limited, and finely bound first edition. Harrap produced 155 signed sets, printed on thick, laid paper with untrimmed fore and bottom edges and sumptuously bound by Leighton Straker in reddish-orange Niger Morocco with gilt top edges, head and tail bands, and marbled endpapers. Volume I of each set was signed by Churchill on the limitation page and each volume was issued in a gray cardboard slipcase with paper spine labels, the Volume I labels also featuring the set number. Five sets were unnumbered, reserved as special gifts from either the author or publisher. Both Ronald Cohen and Richard Langworth cite the word "special" handwritten on the colophon. This set is the only one of the five known to be designated "Presentation" presumably one of a kind. Winston Churchill's biography of John Churchill was initially conceived a full 40 years before publication of the final volume. Churchill originally considered the idea of the biography in 1898, returning to it in earnest in 1928. Marlborough ultimately took 10 years of research and writing and is the most substantial published work of Churchill's 1930s "wilderness years". As he wrote, Churchill passed into his sixties with his own future as uncertain as that of his nation and may have wondered more than once if the life history he was writing might ultimately eclipse his own. It has been said "To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough." Few would accuse Churchill of objectivity. Nonetheless, T. E. Lawrence wrote in praise upon finishing Volume I "It is history, solemn and decorative." Upon reading the proofs, James Lewis Garvin, editor of The Observer, wrote "I think it to be the greatest of all your works Your full brush has never had more mastery over space and colour " When Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953, it was partly for "mastery of historical and biographical description" on the strength of Marlborough, which was specifically cited and quoted by the Swedish Academy. Reference: Cohen A97.1.a, Woods/ICS A40(a), Langworth p.168. Signed and limited issue of the first edition.

First editions, first impressions, both presentation copies, inscribed by the author on the half-title of Volume I, "To Ian Hamilton from Winston S. Churchill Nov. 1933", and the first blank of Volume II, "To Ian from Winston Oct 21. 1934". His military mentor and friend of more than 60 years, Ian Hamilton was one of the most significant figures in Churchill's life. Churchill first served with Hamilton, 21 years his senior, on the north-west frontier of India in 1897. As a friend of Churchill's mother, Hamilton helped obtain permissions for Churchill's participation in the India campaign, and the Boer War in South Africa. In April 1900 Churchill joined the column commanded by Hamilton as it advanced through the Orange Free State to the Transvaal, and he immortalized his commander in his second book on the conflict, Ian Hamilton's March (1900). Their names were to be linked again in less happy circumstances during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, organized by Churchill and commanded by Hamilton. The failure of the campaign was to be a temporary setback for Churchill, but effectively ended Hamilton's career. They remained close until Hamilton's death in 1947, and in 1957 Churchill unveiled the memorial to him in St Paul's Cathedral, describing his friend as "a brilliant and chivalrous man". Churchill worked on the biography of Marlborough, his ancestor who led allied forces to victory against Louis XIV, for almost a decade, and was given exclusive access to the Blenheim archives. The work "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Volume I was published 6 October 1933 and Volume II on 20 October 1934 (here inscribed the day before publication). Two further volumes were published in 1936 and 1938. A pencilled note to the half-title of Volume I, possibly in Hamilton's hand, reads "NB p. 382 - 16 lines from foot" - the passage in question refers to Marlborough being kept in the shade while vexed "by the futile conduct of the campaign in Flanders". This may draw parallels with Churchill and Hamilton's Gallipoli Campaign, designed as an alternative military route than endless trench warfare on the western front. Provenance: the book comes from the two of the greatest Winston Churchill collections: that of Donald Scott Carmichael ("DSC" initials to box in gilt) and the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A97.2(I-II).a; Woods A40(a). 2 volumes, large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front covers, top edges gilt. With dust jackets. Housed together in red cloth chemises and solander box by James Macdonald. Paperclip blind impression to half-title of vol. II. Books bright and fresh, jackets worn with tape repair on verso, unclipped: near-fine copies in sound jackets.