FOR FREE TRADE [First Edition] A Collection of Speeches delivered at Manchester or in the House of Commons during the Fiscal controversy preceding the late General Election

Winston S. Churchill

Published by Arthur L. Humphreys, London, 1906

About this Item

FOR FREE TRADE has always been the holy grail of Churchill book collecting, in tandem with MR. BRODRICK'S ARMY. A small, 136-page, softcover collection of nine speeches delivered on the title subject by Winston Churchill as a 31-year-old MP for Manchester, FOR FREE TRADE was published (at 1 shilling [25c]) by Arthur L. Humphreys, General Manager of Hatchard's, the venerable London bookshop that still very much exists at number 187 Piccadilly. Hatchard's, in 1906, had a long and illustrious history as a publisher of pamphlets, political and otherwise, including Winston Churchill's earlier speech compendium, the aforementioned MR. BRODRICK'S ARMY, which Humphreys and Hatchard's had brought out three years earlier. Identical in format and binding to MR. BRODRICK'S ARMY and just as precious, FOR FREE TRADE may in fact be rarer today than the infamous BRODRICK. Both books were produced in small numbers, bound in unprepossessing red printed wraps that did not age gracefully. The surviving handful of copies (as few as twelve-fifteen accounted for) today constitute the stuff of collectors' dreams. This is, without question, the rarest Churchill first edition available today; an original copy of the First edition in its original card wraps, as issued. The front cover here has triangular losses at each corner, as well as some surface chipping, but it is attached and intact. The front cover has also darkened with age and there is a faint pencil marking visible near the publisher's name. The spine has fragmented but is entirely present. Though published blank, the spinehas been hand-lettered in now-faded ink: "Free Trade. Churchill, M.P." The rear cover (which advertises MR. BRODRICK'S ARMY) is brighter and less worn. The binding is strong and the contents are fine, clean and unfoxed. The title page is stamped: "Reference Dept ?The National Union ? 10 Apr 1906." The book is preserved in a simple blue cloth chemise with leather spine label. It is the most precious of Churchillian prizes. 8vo (136 pages [i-iv] v-ix [x-xii] xiii-xv [xvi] 1-118 [119-120]) (Cohen A18.1) (Woods A9). Seller Inventory # 140677

Bibliographic Details

Title: FOR FREE TRADE [First Edition] A Collection ...

Publisher: Arthur L. Humphreys, London

Publication Date: 1906

Binding: Softcover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: First Edition.