"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
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
First Journey.
London: William Heinemann, 1964. SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.xiv, 225. With 36 b/w photographic illustrations. Maps printed to end-papers. SIGNED by the author in black ink to half-title, dated 8/11/66. In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine. With original pictorial dust jacket. Top edge red. Jacket spine sunned... More
Great Contemporaries.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1937. [Political biographies] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 16cm), pp.335; [1]. With twenty-one photographic portrait plates. Blue cloth blocked in gilt and blind, top edge tinted blue. Minor spotting/toning, bumped to top corner, cloth a little marked and sunned, discreet ownership and bookplate of R.H. Arnold. A.... More
!['My African Journey', 'Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Chase of the Golden Plate' [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 34, 35 and 36. CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Spencer, DOYLE, Jacques, FUTRELLE, Arthur Conan.](/pictures/thumb/33857.jpg?v=1497368022)
'My African Journey', 'Reminiscences of Sherlock Holmes' and 'The Chase of the Golden Plate' [in] The Strand Magazine. Volumes 34, 35 and 36.
London: George Newnes, 1907-8. FIRST APPEARANCES, the complete original parts for the Churchill and Futrelle books, plus three Sherlock Holmes mysteries, collected later in book-form. In three volumes, quarto. Illustrated throughout. Bound in publisher's light blue pictorial cloth. A used but serviceable set, a little dusty and darkened, text block... 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. The five volumes housed in a custom fleece lined cloth slipcase with ribbon pull. Some tape burn to the flyleafs of a couple of volumes, some... 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. ALL FIRST EDITIONS. Octavo. In five volumes. pp. 256; ix, 506; x, 456; x, 379; xi, 332. In publisher's orange, green, blue, pink and red cloth hardcovers respectively, gilt titles to spine, original printed dust-jackets. 'Stemming the Tide' has the second state jacket without the... 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. Illustrated with three half-tone plates. Some spotting to edges. Dust-jacket shows well with just a couple of small closed tears, some nicking... More
Arms and the Covenant. Speeches on Foreign Affairs and National Defence. Compiled by Randolph S. Churchill.
George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd, 1938. FIRST EDITION, EARLIEST STATE. 8vo., pps 466. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine in pale blue dustwrapper. This copy is a Colonial issue, sold by A.H.Spencer of Melbourne and with UK price clipped from jacket, Australian label applied to spine. A.... More
The Atlantic Charter, and the Prime Minister's Statement on Basic English of March 9, 1944; in their original form, and in Basic English, for purposes of Comparison. Presented by the Prime Minister to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, March 1944.
London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1944. Pamphlet, 153 x 246mm. 5 pages. Government Document. Near fine. More
The Atlantic Charter, and the Prime Minister's Statement on Basic English of March 9, 1944; in their original form, and in Basic English, for purposes of Comparison. Presented by the Prime Minister to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, March 1944.
London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1944. Pamphlet, 153 x 246mm. Government Document. 5 pages, stapled at spine. In near fine condition. More
The Atlantic Charter, and the Prime Minister's Statement on Basic English of March 9, 1944; in their original form, and in Basic English, for purposes of Comparison. Presented by the Prime Minister to Parliament by Command of His Majesty, March 1944.
London, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1944. Pamphlet, 153 x 246mm. Government Document. 5 pages, stapled at spine. In near fine condition. More
Autograph letter as Member of Parliament for Woodford, 1959.
1959. Typed letter signed and subscribed ("Yours very sincerely, Winston S. Churchill"), to Conservative party activists Mr and Mrs. Double, thanking them for their support during his successful recent election campaign. One page, 8vo, on Chartwell headed paper, October 1959. Lightly handled, twice folded. Fine. At the General Election held... More
The British Gazette.
His Majesty's Stationery Office, May 5 - May 13, 1926. 8 issues. A complete set of the British Gazette newspaper. All in very good condition, folded, with some toning as expected with newsprint. Overall an exceptionally good set, housed in a leather-spined clamshell box with gilt titles to spine. During... More
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
contributes 'A Message of Good Cheer' to 'The Listener'.
London: British Broadcasting Corporation, 14th May, 1942. ORIGINAL MAGAZINE PRINTING of this speech, broadcast on Churchill's second anniversary as Prime Minister (May 10th). Subsequently collected in 'The End of the Beginning' volume of war speeches, but under the new title 'Prime Minister for Two Years'. Magazine/Newspaper format, stapled at spine... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-58. [English History]. FIRST EDITIONS. In four volumes. Octavo (25 x 17cm). In publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine, top edges tinted red. With original pictorial dust-jackets. Some wear, marks and a reading lean to volume III. Light edge spotting; heavier to volume III... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-8. [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. With original coloured pictorial dust-jackets. Some... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-58. [English History]. FINELY BOUND FIRST EDITIONS. Four volumes, 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 recent navy blue half morocco with raised bands, gilt titles... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-8. [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, pictorial dust-jackets. Some spotting, same discreet... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-8. [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 (sunned as usual),pictorial... More
Ian Hamilton's March.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, ppxiv; 409; [1], blank; [4], ads; [2], blank; [32], catalogue. Original red cloth with gilt titles; black endpapers. Illustrated with portrait, 10 maps and plans (some folding). A used copy with some contemporary newspaper reviews tipped in at front, ink ownership... More
Ian Hamilton's March. Together with Extracts from the Diary of Lieutenant H. Frankland a Prisoner of War at Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. Illustrated with portrait, 10 maps and plans (some folding). Finely bound in recent burgundy half morocco with raised bands and gilt titles to spine, burgundy cloth boards, black end papers. Publisher's original gilt entitled spine and upper bound in at rear... More
Ian Hamilton's March. Together with Extracts from the Diary of Lieutenant H. Frankland a Prisoner of War at Pretoria.
Longman's, Green, and Co., London, 1900, SECOND EDITION. Octavo. Illustrated with portrait, 10 maps and plans (some folding). Publisher's red cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper, black end papers. Prelims spotted, minor wear to cloth. A very good copy. Containing many corrections, this second printing appeared one month... More
Ian Hamilton's March. Together with Extracts from the Diary of Lieutenant H. Frankland a Prisoner of War at Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, ppxiv; 409; [1], blank; [4], ads; [2], blank; [32], catalogue. Handsomely bound in half brown morocco, raised bands, gilt titles and gilt 'lion rampant' motif to spine, t.e.g. Publisher's cloth bound in at rear. Illustrated with portrait, 10 maps and plans... More
Irish Home Rule, together with The Liberal Government and Naval Policy. Speeches delivered by the Rt.Hon.Winston Churchill, M.P., First Lord of The Admiralty (March 1912).
London: The Liberal Publication Department, 1913. FIRST EDITIONS. Two rare pamphlets. Bound in an annual volume of similar works entitled 'Publications for the Year', with new general title page, in publisher's utitlity binding of quarter green morocco over boards, titled in gilt to spine, t.e.g. Heavy wear to spine, head-cap... More
London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, & Co., 1900. 'New Impression' (published in the same format and year as the first). Illustrated with folding coloured map, 3 further folding maps, 4 plans, pp. (xiv), 498, 2 of adverts, 32-page of publisher's catalogue. Publisher's pictorial beige cloth, coated black endpapers. Ownership inscription and armorial... More