"Hungry man, reach for the book: it is a weapon. "
— Bertolt Brecht
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
Great Contemporaries.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1937. [Political biographies] FIRST EDITION, second impression. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[2] 335. With twenty-one photographic portrait plates. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper. Top edge blue. Armorial bookplate to front pastedown, with associated black ink ownership, possibly Max Burnmore. Gently toned to..... More
Great Contemporaries.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1938. [Political biographies] REVISED EDITION, first thus. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.387 [1]. With 25 photographic portrait plates. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper. Gently toned throughout, otherwise internally clean. Moderate general wear to cloth, with toning to spine. Very good. Churchill's classic..... More
Great Contemporaries.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1937. [Political biographies] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.[2] 335 [3]. With twenty-one photographic portrait plates. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper. Top edge blue. A black ink gift inscription to half-title, dated November 1937. Light spotting throughout, otherwise internally..... More
The Great War. Fully Illustrated with Photographs, Drawings and Maps. In 26 Original Parts, [The World Crisis].
London: George Newnes, 1933. [Great War] First illustrated edition of the World Crisis with a new forward by Churchill. The 26 original fortnightly parts. Magazine format, illustrated with photos, drawings and maps. Publisher's blue and white paper covers, priced at 1s each. Very good indeed, with some occasional rubbing and..... More
![Item #69976 [A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, The Second World War, and others] Cassell...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/69976.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1728319077)
[A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, The Second World War, and others] Cassell company archive relating to his publications. 1930s-1990, but chiefly 1944-65.
London: Macmillan and Co., 1942. [Political and Military History] Publishing Churchill at the peak of his literary fame. An extensive archive of papers retained by Churchill's primary post-war UK publishers, Cassell, shedding considerable light on the evolving texts of Churchill's books, Cassell's publishing decisions, international wrangling over rights, and the..... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-1958. [English History] FIRST EDITIONS, first impressions. 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..... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-1958. [English History] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITIONS, first impressions. Complete in 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. Recently rebound in burgundy half morocco, with raised..... More
A History of the English-Speaking Peoples.
London: Cassell and Company, 1956-1958. [English History] FIRST EDITIONS, first impressions. 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..... 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
India. Speeches and An Introduction.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1931. [History and Politics] FIRST EDITION, first impression in soft covers. Crown octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.141 [3]. With advertisement for the Indian Empire Society at rear. Publisher's orange soft covers titled in black, priced at 1s. Purple 'Hotel Suisse & Majestic, Montreux' stamp to title page..... More
London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. [Travel/History] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.xiv, 498 [2], and 32-page publisher's catalogue. Illustrated with folding coloured map, 3 further maps, 4 plans. In publisher's tan cloth with gilt and red titles to spine, black and red titles to upper board, and a...... More
London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. [Travel/History] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.xiv, 498 [2], and 32-page publisher's catalogue. Illustrated with folding coloured map, 3 further maps, 4 plans. In publisher's tan cloth with gilt and red titles to spine, black and red titles to upper board, and a...... More
London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. [Travel/History] FIRST U.S. EDITION. Octavo (20 x 15cm), pp.xiv, 496. Illustrated maps, some folding and accented in colour. Newly bound in half red calf over matching cloth sides, raised bands, gilt titles to spine, top edge gilt. Contents clean, exterior as new. A fine..... More
London to Ladysmith via Pretoria.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1900. [Travel/History] Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.xiv, 498 [2], and 32-page publisher's catalogue. Illustrated with folding coloured map, 3 further maps, 4 plans. In publisher's tan cloth with gilt and red titles to spine, black and red titles to upper board, and a black stamped..... More
![Item #45778 Man Overboard [in The Harmsworth Magazine no.6 for December 1898]. Winston Spencer...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/45778.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1487084161)
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
![Item #69867 Man Overboard [in The Harmsworth Magazine no.6 for December 1898]. Winston Spencer...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/69867.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1781626982)
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. Contents clean, covers a little dusty, chipped to spine ends, short tear to upper, diagonal crease to same. Very good. A scarce piece of Churchill ephemera, being..... More
![Item #67648 Man Overboard! [extracted from] The Harmsworth Monthly Pictorial Magazine. Winston...](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/67648.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1710005511)
Man Overboard! [extracted from] The Harmsworth Monthly Pictorial Magazine.
London: Harmsworth Bros., Limited, 1899. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCE. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.661-664, with numerous blanks bound in as fillers. Taken from The Harmsworth Magazine, January 1899, with 3 illustrations by Henry Austin. Elegantly bound by Bayntun-Riviere, in half red morocco, gilt titles, marching buckram sides, marbled eps., t.e.g...... More
Marlborough. His Life and Times.
London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1934-1938. [Biography/History] VINTAGE LEATHER-BOUND SET, Publisher's 'deluxe morocco' binding. 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..... More
Marlborough. His Life and Times.
London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1933-1938. [Biography/History] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITIONS, all first impressions. Four volumes, octavos (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..... More
![Item #70174 My Early Life [and] Thoughts and Adventures. Winston Spencer CHURCHILL, Sir](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/70174.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1730740606)
My Early Life [and] Thoughts and Adventures.
London: Thornton Butterworth, 1930 and 1932. [Political Autobiography] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITIONS, two volumes. First volume in the later state (with twelve Churchill books advertised on half-title verso), no text points concerning the second volume. Octavo (24 x 16 x 9cm), pp.[2] 392 [2]; pp.[2] 320 [2]. With a black and..... More
My Early Life. A Roving Commission.
London: Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1930. [Political Autobiography] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. First state, with 11 Churchill books advertised on half-title verso. Octavo (24 x 16 x 9cm), pp.[2] 392 [2]. With a black and white photographic frontispiece, and sixteen further photographic plates, as well as several other illustrations in-text..... More
My Early Life. A Roving Commission.
London: Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1930. [Political Autobiography] FIRST EDITION, first impression, second state, with twelve Churchill books advertised on half-title verso. Octavo (24 x 16 x 9cm), pp.[2] 392 [2]. With a black and white photographic frontispiece, and sixteen further photographic plates, as well as several other illustrations in-text and..... More
Painting as a Pastime.
London: Odhams Press, 1948. [Churchill and Politics] LEATHER-BOUND FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.[2] 32 [36]. With 15 leaves of colour illustrations, and a black and white frontispiece. Hand bound in navy blue half morocco, with gilt titles to spin, raised bands, matching cloth sides, original publisher's..... More
Painting as a Pastime.
London: Odhams Press Limited and Ernest Benn Limited, 1948. [Churchill] FIRST SEPARATE EDITION. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.32; [32]. Publisher's light green cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper board, dust-jacket with printed price of 10s 6d. With eighteen unpaginated colour plates to the rear, black and white photographic..... More