"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
— Mark Twain
Winston Churchill | First Editions
1874 - 1965
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS (30 November 1874 - 24 January 1965) was one of those people it is difficult to avoid in the rare book world, simply by dint of the fact that he was amazingly prolific, and had an educated opinion on everything.
As well as being Prime Minister of the UK twice, steering Britain to Victory during the dark days of the Second World War, writing more speeches than the entire Roman Senate, being a serving officer in the army, taking a stint as a war correspondent, being a noted historian, a less noted painter (although the island of Madeira loves him), he received the Nobel Prize for Literature and was also the first person to be made an honorary citizen of the USA.
See below our stock of Winston Churchill First Editions, fine bindings, sets, signed copies, and other collectible material.
Chartwell
Churchill War Rooms
Blenheim Palace
Arms and the Covenant. Speeches by the Right Hon. Winston S. Churchill, C.H, M.P., Compiled by Randolph S. Churchill.
London: George G. Harrap, 1938. [Politics] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 17cm), pp.466. With frontispiece photograph of Winston Churchill. In publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine. Top edge blue. One of just 5000 copies from the original print-run. Half-title toned, spine sunned, a few drip marks to upper..... More
The Collected Essays of Sir Winston Churchill. General Editor: Michael Wolff.
London: Library of Imperial History, no date (1976). [History / Politics] FIRST EDITION. 4 volumes, octavo (25 x 17 x 15cm). Each volume has the publisher's presentation bookplate loosely inserted, noting that this set is number 8 of a limited edition (an uncommon extra). Bound in original quarter dark blue..... More
An Important Collection of Winston Churchill/World War II autographs.
no place, no date. [Autographs] A remarkable autograph album of one Lawrence Biggart containing 95 signatures (1940-48), mostly international statesmen, war leaders, dignitaries and prominent military officials and public servants, plus some contemporary celebrities. Small landscape album (18 x 12cm) in brown crocodile skin-effect leather, comprising 95 autographs on paper..... More
Autograph Book.
UK: no place, no date [1930s]. [History/Politics/Entertainment] A leather-effect autograph book from the Duke of Buccleugh collection. Small oblong (11 x 14cm) with gilt trim, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Featuring the signatures of four British Prime Ministers; Stanley Baldwin (and Countess Baldwin), Neville Chamberlain, Sir Winston Churchill (a particularly..... More
![Item #61109 [War Speeches 1938-1945]: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the...](/pictures/thumb/61109.jpg?v=1651674210)
[War Speeches 1938-1945]: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the Beginning; Onwards to Victory; The Dawn of Liberation; Victory; Secret Session Speeches. Compiled by Randolph S. Churchill.
London: Cassell and Company, 1941-6. [Speeches] FIRST EDITIONS, all first impressions ('Into Battle' is a first state). Seven volumes. Octavo (22 x 15 x 19cm). Includes several half-tone plates. In publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spines. All in original colour dust-jackets, none of which are price-clipped. Wartime paper..... More
![Item #61416 [War Speeches 1938-1945]: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the...](/pictures/thumb/61416.jpg?v=1651674216)
[War Speeches 1938-1945]: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the Beginning; Onwards to Victory; The Dawn of Liberation; Victory; Secret Session Speeches. Compiled by Randolph S. Churchill.
London: Cassell and Company, 1941-1946. [Speeches] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITIONS, all first impressions ('Into Battle' is a first state). Complete in seven volumes, with the final two volumes bound together as one. Octavo (22 x 14 x 19cm). Includes several half-tone plates. Handsomely bound in navy half calf, with twin red..... More
![Item #61936 [War Speeches 1938-1945]: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the...](/pictures/thumb/61936.jpg?v=1654791064)
[War Speeches 1938-1945]: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the Beginning; Onwards to Victory; The Dawn of Liberation; Victory; Secret Session Speeches. Compiled by Randolph S. Churchill.
London: Cassell and Company, 1941-6. [Speeches] FIRST EDITIONS, all first impressions ('Into Battle' is a first state). Seven volumes. Octavo (22 x 15 x 19cm). Includes several half-tone plates. In publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spines. All in original colour dust-jackets, vols 3 and 4 being price-clipped. First..... More
Post-War Speeches, 1945-1959. The Sinews of Peace; Europe Unite; In the Balance; Stemming the Tide; The Unwritten Alliance.
London: Cassell and Company, 1948-61. [Politics] FIRST EDITIONS. Five volumes, octavo (23 x 15 x 18cm). Publisher's cloth, gilt titles to spine, typographic dust-jackets. Some light spotting/toning, jackets clean and fresh, all prices present. A very bright set. 'Tide' is the second state of the jacket. Smartly housed in a...... More
Post-War Speeches, 1945-1959. The Sinews of Peace; Europe Unite; In the Balance; Stemming the Tide; The Unwritten Alliance.
London: Cassell and Company, 1948-61. [Politics] FIRST EDITIONS. Five volumes, octavo (23 x 15 x 18cm). Publisher's cloth, gilt titles to spine, typographic dust-jackets. One discreet inscription, two jackets price-clipped. Some light spotting/toning, jackets clean and fresh, with shallow loss to crown of 'Sinews', otherwise particularly fresh examples. 'Tide' is..... More
The Dawn of Liberation. War Speeches by the Right Hon. Winston S. Churchill C.H., M.P. 1944.
London: Cassell and Company, 1945. [World War II] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.xi; [1]; 327; [1]. Publisher's blue cloth, gilt titles to spine, in typographic dust-jacket priced at 12/6. Illustrated with three half-tone plates. Some spotting to edges, discreet name to pastedown, jacket price-clipped. A very good copy..... More
The War Speeches of the Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill, O.M., C.H., P.C., M.P.
London: Cassell and Company, 1951-1952. [Second World War Speeches] FIRST COLLECTED EDITION, First Printings. Three volumes. Octavo (26 x 16cm), pp.xvi; 483 [1]; pp.xvi; 560; pp.xvi; 578 [2]. Publisher's dark blue cloth with gilt titles to spines. Each volume with the cream and pink dust-jacket, priced at 21s. Contents very..... More
The War Speeches of the Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill, O.M., C.H., P.C., M.P.
London: Cassell and Company, 1951-1952. [Second World War Speeches] FIRST COLLECTED EDITION, First Printings. Three volumes. Octavo (26 x 16cm), pp.xvi; 483 [1]; pp.xvi; 560; pp.xvi; 578 [2]. Publisher's dark blue cloth with gilt titles to spines. Each volume with the cream and pink dust-jacket, priced at 21s. Internally clean..... More
Paintings by the Rt. Hon. Sir Winston Churchill.
London: The Royal Academy of Arts, 1959. [Exhibition Catalogue] FIRST EDITION, and only edition. Octavo (25 x 18cm), pp.48. With 22 double-sided lithographic plates, six being in colour. Publisher's glossy card covers, illustrated. Some toning and spotting to inside of covers. Moderate wear to covers. Very good. WOODS, Frederick, 'A..... More
The British Gazette.
[London]: His Majesty's Stationery Office, May 5 - May 13, 1926. Newspapers, 8 issues, (60 x 48cm). A complete set of the British Gazette newspaper. Housed in a brown leather-spined clamshell box with cloth sides, gilt titles and raised bands (34 x 27cm). All in very good condition, folded, with..... More
Churchill Christmas Greetings card.
London and Tunbridge Wells: Printed by Photocrom, n.d. [circa 1945]. Card-backed cut-out photographic print of Winston Churchill, with "The Prime Minister Faces Facts and Gives Facts", printed on the front. Sent out as a greetings card by A. Cohen and Co. of Great Dover Street, London with the text reading..... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Educational Book Company, 1956-8. [History] First Illustrated Edition, the Chartwell Edition. Complete in four volumes. Octavo (25 x 17 x 16cm). Each volume with several suites of double-sided black and white photographic plates. Publisher's blue buckram with gilt stamped boards, red leather title labels and gilt decoration to spines;..... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-1958. [English History] FIRST EDITIONS. Octavo (25 x 17 x 15cm), pp.[2]; xxii; 416; pp.[2]; xii; 344; [2]; pp.[2]; xii; 332; [6]; pp.[2]; xii; 322. With occasional in-text maps and plans. In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spines, top edges red, pictorial dust-jackets priced..... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-1958. [English History] FIRST EDITIONS. Octavo (25 x 17 x 15cm), pp.[2]; xxii; 416; pp.[2]; xii; 344; [2]; pp.[2]; xii; 332; [6]; pp.[2]; xii; 322. With occasional in-text maps and plans. In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spines, top edges red, pictorial dust-jackets priced..... More
In The Balance. Speeches 1949 and 1950.
Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1952. [Post-War Churchill Speeches] FIRST US EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[2] x; 456. Publisher's brown cloth with darker brown titles and decoration to spine. With the deep red dust-jacket designed by Samuel H. Bryant, priced at $5.00. Light toning and spotting to edges. Light..... More
India. Speeches and An Introduction.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1931. [History and Politics] FIRST EDITION, first and second impression in soft covers. Two volumes. Crown octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.141 [3]; pp.141 [3]. With advertisement for the Indian Empire Society at rear. Volumes are identical, except that the first impression is in orange soft covers, and..... More
![Item #45778 Man Overboard [in The Harmsworth Magazine no.6 for December 1898]. Winston Spencer...](/pictures/thumb/45778.jpg?v=1574440565)
Man Overboard [in The Harmsworth Magazine no.6 for December 1898].
London: Harmsworth Bros, Dec. 1898. First appearance of Churchill's short story 'Man Overboard'. Small quarto magazine format in original publisher's illustrated paper covers. Very minor edgewear and very slight chipping to spine ends otherwise bright, clean and strong. Quarter inch of loss to tail of spine panel. Staples faintly rusting..... More
Marlborough. His Life and Times.
London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1933 - 1938. [Biography/History] FIRST EDITIONS. Four volumes, octavo (24 x 17 x 22cm), pp.[4]; 612; pp.651; [1]; pp.[2]; 608; [2]; pp.671; [1]. With 325 illustrations, including a frontispiece to each volume, black and white plates, folding maps and battle plans, and facsimile documents..... More
Marlborough. His Life and Times.
London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1933 - 1938. [Biography/History] FIRST EDITIONS. Four volumes, octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.[4]; 612; pp.651; [1]; pp.[2]; 608; [2]; pp.671; [1]. With 325 illustrations, including a frontispiece to each volume, black and white plates, folding maps and battle plans, and facsimile documents. In publisher's..... More
Painting as a Pastime.
London: Odham Press Limited and Ernest Benn Limited, 1948. [Art/History] ASSOCIATION COPY of the FIRST SEPARATE EDITION, following publication within The Strand magazine, then as an essay in the collection 'Thoughts and Adventures'. Slim octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.32, with plates bound at rear. Publisher's cloth in pictorial dust-wrapper. Black..... More
Savrola.
London: George Newnes, no date [1908]. [Literature] Newnes Sixpenny Novel edition of Churchill's only novel, being the FIRST ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.128. Illustrated with two full-page monochrome plates (frontispiece and front cover). Magazine format, stapled and bound in publishers colour-printed card wraps. Slight toning to contents, a...... More