“THEY MAY BE THE LAST WORD UPON THE WAR”: FIRST EDITIONS OF CHURCHILL’S WAR SPEECHES, HANDSOMELY BOUND

CHURCHILL, Winston. Collection of World War II speeches: Into Battle, (1941); The Unrelenting Struggle, (1942); The End of the Beginning, (1943); Onwards to Victory, (1944); The Dawn of Liberation, (1945); Victory, (1946); Secret Session Speeches, (1946). London: Cassell, (1941-46). Seven volumes. Octavo, modern three-quarter burgundy morocco gilt, raised bands, black morocco spine labels, spines decorated with gilt-tooled Churchill lion emblems. $4500.

First editions of Churchill’s separately published World War II speeches, handsomely bound.

Churchill's speeches "constitute a contemporary history of the war which is as lively as it is authoritative; and, so far as contemporary history is of value, they may be said to be the last word upon the war" (Randolph S. Churchill). With 50 half-tone photographic plates, including frontispieces. Into Battle second state, with page number "78" present. The Unrelenting Struggle first state, with page number "281" printed incorrectly. Victory second state, with page number "177" correctly printed. Secret Session Speeches first English edition, preceded by the American edition. Cohen A142.1.a; A172.1.a; A183.1.a; A194.1.a; A214.1.a; A223.1.a; A227.2.a. Langworth, 202-247. Woods A66(a)-A114.

Faint foxing to text block edge of a few volumes, interiors fine. Very handsomely bound.