Books

London: Thornton Butterworth Limited, 1930. First edition, first printing, first state, pre-publication proof copy. Wraps. This improbable rarity is a proof copy of Winston Churchill's autobiography of his early life. This is the only proof copy we have ever offered and one of only two of which we are aware. This proof copy and the only other known to us are bound in plain, unprinted gray card wraps. While entirely blank and unlabeled, notionally indicating an early proof, this copy features the full text, including the half-title, title, and dedication pages, along with the table of contents, all maps and illustrations, and the index. Trim differs slightly from the first printing; the text block bulks approximately the same as the first printing and is roughly as wide, but is trimmed .25 inch shorter. Condition of this proof copy is good plus overall. The card wraps remain attached and the glued spine substantially attached, despite chipping along the hinges and at the spine ends.…

My Early Life is an autobiographical work by Winston Churchill. It covers his birth in 1874 to his first few years in Parliament.

First editions can be identified by the publisher's name Butterworth on the bottom of the spine and title page, as later editions were published by other publishers.