About this Item
This is the Editor, Jennie Churchill s, personal copy of the first volume of her short-lived literary publication, featuring her bookplate, dated signature, and Latin inscription, as well as signatures of fourteen of her influential friends and associates. Jeanette "Jennie" Jerome (1854-1921) is best known as wife of Lord Randolph Churchill and mother of Sir Winston. Literary partnership between mother and son began when Jennie used her social connections to persuade newspapers to publish Winston s war despatches. Winston reciprocated by encouraging and advising conception of his mother s luxury literary magazine. On 1 January 1899 he wrote, "Of course I will help you in any way that I can and I do not doubt the affair can be made a success." Support did not extend to Jennie s title choice, The Anglo-Saxon, which in a 16 February 1899 letter Winston called "Most unsuitable. It might do for a vy popular periodical. It is very inappropriate to a Magazine de Luxe, meant only for the cultivated few". Jennie was swayed neither by her son s objections nor the fact that another publication already bore the title. The word "Review" was added and publication went to press. This, Jennie s personal copy of the first volume, features an intriguing artifact of this drama. In Jennie s introduction the title has the final word crossed out in ink, ostensibly by her own hand, editing the title to its initial intention. Winston remained involved with the publication, contributing one essay over the course of the magazine s short run. Each volume was a luxurious production printed on heavy laid paper and bound in full, elaborately gilt-decorated leather priced at a guinea, a price that Jennie thought would "ensure its respectful treatment at the hands of those who peruse it" a delicious bit of Victorian haughtiness. Though the publication attracted respected contributors, consonant with Jennie s habitual spendthrift habits, expenses were unsustainable. Winston suggested the publication merge with a rival. Such a scheme never coalesced. The tenth volume of September 1901 was the last. This first issue is Jennie s own, bearing her bookplate on the front pastedown. On the flyleaf preceding the half title page Jennie signed, "June 28th 1899 | Felicibus auspiciis | naviget phaselus! | Jennie Randolph Churchill". Beneath the editor s inscription are fourteen signatures, a compelling collection of Jennie s influential friends, many associated with The Souls, a late Victorian English social group. The twelve signees we have identified are: Herbert Asquith, Prime Minister from 1908-1916; Margot Asquith, author and wife of the previous; Herbert Gladstone, son of a Prime Minister, Home Secretary from 1905-1910, and 1st Governor-General of South Africa from 1910-1914; William H. Grenfell, politician, athlete, and 1st Baron Desborough; Ethel Grenfell, wife of the previous; Sir Reginald Lister, diplomat; Alfred Lyttelton, accomplished sportsman and Colonial Secretary from 1903-1905; Edith Lyttelton, novelist, spiritualist, and wife of the previous; Pamela Plowden, Winston Churchill s "first great love" (Mary Soames, Winston and Clementine and OB, Vol. I, p.296); Millicent Sutherland, author and editor who was later awarded for her WWI service organizing an ambulance unit and directing field hospitals; Harold Tennant, Secretary for Scotland under his brother-in-law Asquith; and Helen Vincent, socialite and noblewoman whose husband, Edgar Vincent, suggested The Anglo-Saxon title to Jennie, with whom he had an affair. Condition is very good. The rich gilt print and ornamentation remains bright. The book has been skillfully rebacked with leather, over which the original spine is laid down. The corners have likewise been rebuilt. New endpapers have been added, with Jennie s original bookplate lifted and reapplied. The contents are clean and bright with light browning and spotting confined to the first and final leaves.
Seller Inventory # 008318
Contact seller
Report this item
