Churchill - The Second World War, 1 of 7 sets finely bound for presentation

Description: The Second World War, a full set of six U.S. first editions, one of seven sets finely bound and slipcased for presentation by the printer, Kingsport Press Winston S. Churchill Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1948-1953 Condition: Fine This magnificent set is the printer’s special presentation binding of the U.S. first edition, first printing of The Second World War, Winston Churchill's history of the epic 20th century struggle that was so indelibly stamped by his leadership. This is one of only two such sets we have encountered and only seven bound thus, apparently unknown to both the collecting community and Churchill’s bibliographers. The bindings are compelling in both craftsmanship and appearance, featuring three-quarter brown calf with marbled paper-cover boards. The spines feature gilt-ruled compartments separated by raised and gilt-decorated spine bands. The covers feature gilt-ruled transitions. The contents are bound with gilt top edges, red and gold silk head and tail bands, and endpapers matching the marbled paper of the boards. Each volume is housed in its own stout, brown cloth-covered slipcase. Condition is impressively fine. The bindings are square, tight, clean, and unfaded. We find only a few trivial hints of wear to the edges of the boards, attributable to fitting into the slipcases. The first printing contents are bright, clean, and crisp with no ownership marks, spotting or age toning. Each volume looks and feels unread. The slipcases have done their job, absorbing the only modest toll of age and shelf wear. All six slipcases are in very good condition, fully intact, though showing light, superficial wear and occasional mottling. This U.S. first edition preceded its British counterpart and is hence the true first edition, published in six volumes between October 1948 and November 1953. We know from the only other set we have encountered – bound identically to this set – that Kingsport Press commissioned this special presentation binding. In that other set we found a printed plate dated “April 9, 1954” reading: “Mr. C. Wilhelm | Vice President of Kingsport Press | has presented this deluxe-bound set of | Winston Churchill’s Memoirs to | MR. H. H. HORTON | Distribution of the remaining sets | was as follows: | 2 to Sir Winston S. Churchill | 1 to Pres. of Houghton Mifflin, Publishers | 1 to Pres. of Book-of-the-Month Club | 1 to Rutgers University Press Library | 1 retained by Mr. Wilhelm for his own | library.” Since this set lacks a plate, we do not know to whom it was originally distributed. Tennessee-based Kingsport press was one of four printers of the first edition. Churchill’s bibliographer, Ron Cohen, explains “Production was divided among four printers: the Riverside Press, the Haddon Craftsmen, the Kingsport Press and H. Wolff… all plates were struck from the typesetting ordered by Houghton Mifflin and the title-page versos generally indicate which printers produced each volume”. (Vol. I, A240.1(I).a, p.718) In the case of this set, the title page versos of all six volumes indicated that they were printed by Kingsport Press. The rights to publish Churchill’s war memoirs has been called “perhaps the greatest coup of Twentieth Century publishing”. For Kingsport Press, the commission to print this iconic work brought not just commercial value, but reputational prestige – which may help explain why the printer undertook this special binding. Reference: Cohen A240.4(I-VI).a, Woods/ICS A123(ba), Langworth p.264. Ref #: 007838 CHURCHILL BOOK COLLECTOR We are Churchill Book Collector, a professional bookseller specializing in books and other published works by and about the great twentieth century statesman and acclaimed writer, Sir Winston Churchill. We offer both a singular inventory and approachable expertise. The integrity of our inventory is backed by our membership in the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksellers (ILAB), and the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA). Churchill's official biographer, Sir Martin Gilbert, rightly called Churchill's long life "remarkable and versatile". Statesman, soldier, war correspondent, ardent social reformer, combative cold warrior, painter - Churchill was many things, but perhaps above all a master wordsmith. We’re here to help Churchill’s words find your shelves. Our extensive inventory features some of the rarest material offered – including fine first editions and inscribed copies – as well as reading copies and works about Churchill’s life and time. While we specialize in Churchill, our inventory also includes noteworthy first and collectible editions by other authors, ranging from Xenophon to T. E. Lawrence, spanning exploration and empire to twentieth century fiction. We are able to help with anything from finding individual books to assembling full collections, working closely with individual collectors to identify and accommodate their preferences and budget. We are also able to commission preservation cases and fine bindings. Please contact us if you have books to sell. We buy, and in some cases consign, fine and collectible individual items, as well as whole collections.

Price: 7200 USD

Location: San Diego, California

End Time: 2025-01-03T21:43:16.000Z

Shipping Cost: 25 USD