About this Item
This is a magnificent, finely-bound first edition, first printing of Winston S. Churchill s only book-length autobiographical work.This copy is a compellingly handsome example of the fine binder s craft, in full red Morocco by Bayntun-Rivière. The binding features a hubbed spine with gilt-ruled compartments, gilt-decorated bands, and gilt-hatched spine ends. The spine features the title and author in the second and third compartments with the publication date at the heel. The first, fourth, fifth, and sixth compartments each feature a gilt lion rampant. The covers feature gilt rule borders and gilt-decorated edges, the front cover gilt-stamped with Churchill s facsimile signature. The contents are bound with all edges gilt, red and gold silk head and tail bands, and combed pattern marbled endpapers framed by generous, double gilt-ruled turn-ins with decorative corner devices. "BOUND BY BAYNTUN RIVIERE BATH ENGLAND" is gilt-stamped on the lower front pastedown turn-in. In 1939, the year the Second World War began, the firm of George Bayntun acquired the Rivière Bindery. The Bindery has been in residence on Manvers Street in Bath ever since. "SOTHERAN. SACKVILLE ST. LONDON" is stamped on the left front free endpaper verso. Founded in York in 1761 and established in London in 1815, Sotheran s is one of the world s oldest bookshops.Condition of the binding is fine, with no toning, soiling, blemishes, or appreciable wear. The exceptional contents are well suited to the binding, entirely complete and free of any spotting, soiling, or previous ownership marks. We note only modest age-toning.Churchill's extremely popular autobiography, covering the years from his birth in 1874 to his first few years in Parliament, was first published in 1930 by Thornton Butterworth Limited. Churchill would spend the decade out of power and out of favor, frequently at odds with both his Government and prevailing public sentiment. But in 1940, terribly vindicated by the outbreak of the Second World War and the failure of the leaders he had so long criticized, Churchill became wartime prime minister. One can hardly ask for more adventurous content than the non-fiction (well, mostly) between the covers of My Early Life. Herein Churchill says:"Twenty to twenty-five! These are the years! Don't be content with things as they are. Don't take No for an answer. Never submit to failure. You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true, and also fierce, you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her. She was made to be wooed and won by youth." (MEL, p.74)By the end of his own twenty-fifth year, Churchill had been one of the world s highest paid war correspondents, published his first five books, made his first lecture tour of North America, braved and breasted both battlefields and the hustings, and been elected to Parliament, where he would take his first seat only weeks after the end of Queen Victoria s reign.My Early Life remains one of the most popular and widely read of all Churchill's books. To be sure, Churchill takes some liberties with facts and perhaps unduly lightens or over-simplifies certain events. Nonetheless, the factual experiences of Churchill s early life compete with any fiction, and any liberties taken are forgivable, in keeping with the wit, pace, and engaging style that characterize the book.Reference: Cohen A91.1.c, Woods/ICS A37(a), Langworth p.131.
Seller Inventory # 008294
Contact seller
Report this item
