ARCHIVE OF MATERIALS CONCERNING CHURCHILL'S STATE FUNERAL SERVICE, COMPRISING A PRISTINE CEREMONIAL AND ORDER OF SERVICE PRIVATELY PRINTED FOR USE AT ST. PAUL'S AND THE ACCOMPANYING TYPED LETTER SIGNED FROM THE PRIVATE SECRETARY TO CONTROLLER TO THE REQUESTER OF THE ITEMS, SIR RUPERT SPEIR, A CONSERVATIVE M.P.

CHURCHILL, Winston. Funeral archive (comprising two publications from Churchill's state funeral service and accompanying typed signed letter to Sir Rupert Speir, M.P., from the Private Secretary to Controller). London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, January 30, 1965 and February 25, 1965. Two booklets (octavo and quarto), staple-bound as issued, cream papers wrappers; typed signed letter on a single sheet of H.M. Stationery Office letterhead, measuring approximately 6 by 8 inches; pp.1; original typed manila envelope.

Archive of materials from Winston Churchill's state funeral, comprising the Ceremonial and Order of Service booklets privately printed solely for those invited to the service at St. Paul's and a typed letter from Her Majesty's Stationery Office to the requester of the materials, Sir Rupert Speir, M.P.

This archive includes two pamphlets that were privately printed for use at St. Paul's by attendees at the state funeral of Winston Churchill—the Ceremonial and the Order of Service. They were evidently requested by Conservative M.P. Sir Rupert Speir (best known for acts on community nuisances) and are accompanied by a typed letter on H.M. Stationery Office letterhead that reads in full: "26th February 1965. Dear Sir Rupert Speir, I tried, unsuccessfully, to contact you on the telephone yesterday about your demand for a copy of the Order of Service and of the Ceremonial printed for the State Funeral of the late Sir Winston Churchill. These have not been published but were printed solely for those invited to the Service at St. Paul's and for official purposes. However, we have a very few spare copies for members of the congregation who may have mislaid their copies and I enclose one of each for your personal use. Yours sincerely, [signed] Private Secretary to Controller." Including a 19-gun salute, an RAF fly-past, and a funeral cortege that traveled on a boat along the Thames and on a train through England so that mourners could pay their respects to the late prime minister at stops along the way, Churchill's funeral was reflective of the new prosperity that his second term had promised, and was watched by millions around the world on television. Before Churchill was finally laid to rest in quiet Oxfordshire, 321,360 people had viewed him lying in state and representatives of 122 countries had come to the UK to say goodbye to "the man who saved Europe."

Slight paperclip mark to letter. Fine condition.