FIRST EDITION OF CHURCHILL'S ILLUSTRATED THE GREAT WAR

CHURCHILL, Winston S. The Great War. Fully Illustrated with Photographs, Drawings and Maps. London: George Newnes, [1933-34]. Three volumes. Quarto, original gilt-stamped royal blue cloth. $950.

First edition in book form of the first illustrated edition of Churchill's The World Crisis, with hundreds of photographic illustrations, maps, and plans.

"Not only the best account of the most tremendous convulsion the world has ever seen, but one of the most brilliant treatises on war that has ever been written" (Spectator). With a new Foreword by Churchill dated August 1933. Churchill's monumental history of World War I was originally published in six volumes as The World Crisis, 1923-31; this first illustrated and abridged edition was originally published in 26 parts issued fortnightly by Newnes from September 1933 to October 1934, "in a form which will make them accessible to a very wide public." The collector of the parts could later purchase the royal blue "Standard Binding" case for the binding of the parts, or an already-bound set, also in royal blue cloth, as here. Cohen A69.9c. Langworth, 118-20. See Woods A31a.

Interiors fine; only most minor wear to original cloth, gilt exceptionally bright. A nearly fine set.