THE SECOND WORLD WAR -Signed First English Edition Set with Presentation Volume Inscribed to Churchill's Valet-

Winston S. Churchill

Published by Cassell and Co. 1948-1953, London, 1948

The best-selling six-volume history that helped gain Churchill a Nobel Prize for literature. Published first in the U.S., the ensuing English edition contained numerous corrections and even a few additional maps. It is therefore considered more definitive, though the First American edition is decidedly rarer. The six volumes were issued over a period of six years under the following titles: THE GATHERING STORM (Volume 1), THEIR FINEST HOUR (Volume 2), THE GRAND ALLIANCE (Volume 3), THE HINGE OF FATE (Volume 4), CLOSING THE RING (Volume 5) and TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY (Volume VI). This very good set of First English editions in dust jackets is signed in Volume III on the half-title page: "Inscribed for Norman McGowan, Winston S. Churchill, 1951."NORMAN McGOWAN served as Winston Churchill's valet from 1949 until retiring in 1952. He subsequently published a memoir, MY YEARS WITH CHURCHILL, in 1958. A First English edition copy of that book (with M[a]cgowan's name misspelled on the dust jacket) is included here, preserved in a blue quarter-leather solander (stamped: THE SECOND WORLD WAR / Vol. III on the spine).Winston Churchill apparently presented his valet with signed copies of other volumes of THE SECOND WORLD WAR; in MY YEARS WITH CHURCHILL there is a photo of Mr. McGowan reading a signed First American edition copy of Volume IV.The dust jackets of this First English set are exceptionally bright on the faces, and significantly unfaded on the traditionally fade-prone spines. Volume I jacket spine has darkened with age but the spine type is still legible. There is edge-wear at the jacket spine heads of all volumes and Volumes IV-VI are price-clipped. The books are all fine, the black cloth clean and the bindings tight. The red topstains have faded variably, with the exception of very bright Volumes V and VI. The contents are fine, with foxing to the fore-edges only.A lovely set overall with an intimate provenance. 16mo (Maps, diagrams and tables throughout) (Cohen A240.4[I-VI].a) (Woods A123ba). Seller Inventory # 141981

Bibliographic Details

Title: THE SECOND WORLD WAR -Signed First English ...
Publisher: Cassell and Co. 1948-1953, London
Publication Date: 1948
Binding: Hardcover in Dust Jacket
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
Signed: Signed
Edition: First Edition.