Books

Advance proof copies of Churchill's epic biography of his ancestor, from the collection of Churchill's bibliographer Ronald Cohen, with his ownership inscription in pencil on the half-titles. Cohen's Bibliography of the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill, published in three volumes in 2006, is the authoritative source for collectors, librarians, and dealers. The contents of the proofs are similar to the published books, though without most of the plates and with the dedication and index blank. In terms of the text, comparison shows some alteration in words and spacing between the proofs and the published versions. Between proof copies we have examined, there is some variation in wrapper colour and the inclusion of plates. Woods does not mention the proofs; Cohen only notes the larger unbound galley proofs on which Churchill worked and does not describe proof copies in his bibliography. Langworth states "from The World Crisis on, proof copies bound in paper wrappers are occasionally encountered. I have not thought it my duty to describe these, which is a task best left to the bibliographer, except to say that in general they tend to lack illustrations, maps and plans that appear in the published volumes. Although not widely collected, proofs do usually command high prices when they are offered for sale" (p. 7). The proof copies are much scarcer than the published books, and a full set of the four, given the five-year publication span, is rarely encountered. Four vols, large octavo. Original variously coloured wrappers, printed in black, contemporary manuscript title to spine of vol. I. Vol. III housed in custom brown cloth box. Vol. I with book label to front wrapper verso of the Faulkner scholar James B. Meriwether (1928-2007); gift inscription dated 1946 to half-title of vol. IV. Light wear and soiling, vol. IV with some residue of tape repair and with front wrapper re-attached (both wrappers close to splitting), still a very good set in the fragile original wrappers. Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a [for first trade editions]. Richard Langworth, A Connoisseur's Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill, 1998.

Marlborough: His Life and Times is a comprehensive biography of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, written by Winston Churchill. The work details the Duke's military campaigns and personal life.