The Churchill Collection has many rare editions and printings of Churchill’s books. Some highlights include:
The Story of the Malakand Field Force (London, 1898)
Churchill A1.1.a
The twenty-two-year-old Churchill’s first book, in which a reviewer says, “there’s not an awkward passage,” appeared in several early editions. In the collection there are copies of the state of the first edition with the errata slip; the Colonial edition with the unusual form of the author’s name–“Winston L. Spencer Churchill” [Churchill A1.2.b]; Copp Clark’s Canadian issue [Churchill A1.2.e]; and the scarce issue in paper wrappers.
London to Ladysmith Via Pretoria (London, 1900) and Ian Hamilton’s March (London, 1900)
Churchill A292.1
Based on Churchill’s coverage of the Boer War for The Morning Post, including his experience as a prisoner in Pretoria, these volumes are often cited to illustrate his advanced attitudes to race, in contrast to prevailing British views of the times, and his impressive early, comprehensive grasp of the realities of the military enterprise. The Canadian editions, in both pictorial cloth [Churchill A4.3.a] and paper wrappers [Churchill A4.3.b], are particularly scarce.
Mr. Brodrick’s Army (London, 1903)
Churchill A10.1
As a young member of Parliament, between May 1901 and February 1903, Churchill delivered six “oratorical onslaughts” against the Army reforms proposed by Sgt. John Brodrick, then Secretary for War. The first edition of this pamphlet, containing the text of those speeches is now among the rarest of Churchill’s works, it had a limited print run.
The World Crisis (London, 1923-31)
In his own words, “not history, but a contribution to history,” Churchill’s account of World War I and its aftermath stands as one of his most compelling works, as it celebrates the Allied victory and honours the values of those who suffered from an inadequate political and military command. The collection features an advance copy of the two-volume edition of part 3 (1916-18) and a rough proof of the one-volume abridgement (London, 1931).
The collection has recently acquired a unique copy of the first British edition of The World Crisis [Churchill A69.2(I).b, A69.2(II).a, A69.2(III).b, A69.2(IV).a, A69.2(V).a]. The six volume set was accompanied by a type-written letter from Donald Macleod, Churchill’s private secretary, on behalf of Winston Churchill to Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, dated 16 November 1926. The letter confirms that W.L Mackenzie King received a copy of Volume 3, in 2 parts, inscribed by Winston Churchill, dated 13 August 1929. The first two volumes were signed by Churchill during his visit to Canada on 15 November 1926. This visit is covered extensively in Martin Gilbert’s multi-volume biography of Churchill. Terry Reardon’s 2012 book, Winston Churchill and Mackenzie King: So Similar, So Different [DA566.9 .C5 R43 2012] chronicles the relationship between them.
Addresses Delivered in the Year Nineteen Hundred and Forty to the People of Great Britain, of France, and to the Members of the English House of Commons (San Francisco, 1940)
Churchill A133
A limited edition of 250 copies produced by the Grabhorn Press for a San Francisco department store, this fine large edition is actually the first appearance in book form of these speeches, which were later printed in Into Battle [Churchill A142.1.c]. A fine 1972 Leeds edition of this speech calls it, “Churchill’s greatest speech,” and points to its continuing relevance as Britain, “seems to be moving into an association with Europe.”
The Second World War. Volumes 5 & 6. Advance proof copies. (1952, 1954)
Churchill A240.4(V).a– copy 4; Churchill A240.4(VI).a– copy 4
These advance proof copies are of considerable importance because of the numerous changes Churchill made during stages of the publication process.