Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$212.53 + shipping
Condition: Poor
Description: 140 Pages, First 35 Pages Damaged On Blank Corner And Some Of Them Strengthened With Tissue Paper. Slight Worming. Rebound Half Leather Retaining The Original Card Covers.
Seller: Prabhu Book Exports, Gurgaon, HR, India
Churchill, Winston S. (1874-1965). India. Speeches and an Introduction. Thornton Butterworth, 1931.
Price: US$320.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: Londres, Thornton Butterworth, 1931. 141 páginas. Encuadernación rústica. Primera Edición. The first printing of the first edition.(código 1842)
Seller: Apartirdecero, CAPITAL FEDERAL, BUE, Argentina
Price: US$320.69 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: An abused copy of this uncommon book. The 2nd impression of the first edition with the even scarcer orange printed wraps. The rear wrap has been assailed with a spill of indeterminate origin which has penetrated through the wrap and caused edge stains to the rear half of the text from page 59 onwards with no loss of text. PP135-144 also have orange stains to text. Nevertheless the text is legible and complete with occasional light pencil underlining and marginalia. See photos to examine the affect of the stain through the book. If you require additional photos let me know. (Langworth pp151/2).
Seller: Chris Phillips, Wiltshire, United Kingdom
Churchill, Winston S.. India: Speeches and an Introduction. Thornton Butterworth, London, 1931.
Price: US$376.96 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: The first printing of the first edition. Original orange wraps, lettered in black. Small chips to corners; toning and some staining from old tape reinforcements; old glue repair reattaching upper edge of front cover. Some foxing to edges and outer leaves. Old owner's blindstamp to bottom of title-page. Otherwise still a tight and sound, not unattractive, copy. 144pp. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall
Seller: CARDINAL BOOKS ~~ ABAC/ILAB, London -- Birr, ON, Canada
Price: US$575.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a very good copy of the Second Printing of the First English edition, published in the same month as the First Printing but in green wrappers rather than orange. The wrappers have darkened somewhat with age and there is a small, faint price sticker shadow on the front face. The contents are fine and unfoxed. The book is preserved in a handsome burgundy cloth slipcase. First English Softcover Edition/Second Printing (Cohen A92.1.e) (Woods A38).
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Limited, London, 1931.
Price: US$600.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, second and final printing, in the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches as part of his campaign against the India Bill, over which he broke with his partys leadership. The first edition is most commonly found in orange paper wraps. A much scarcer version of the first edition was issued in a cased (hardcover) binding, featuring a bright orange coarse cloth. A second printing of the first edition was issued in the same month as the first printing. According to Churchill bibliographer Ronald Cohen: "Few cased copies of the second printing are known." Here is one of those very few - a hardcover first edition, second printing. This copy is complete and unrestored, though aesthetically compromised and priced accordingly. This copy is ex-library evidenced by the printed plate of Northern Irelands "Tyrone County Library" affixed to the front pastedown above a small card pocket, a Tyrone County Library sticker on the facing front free endpaper recto, oval Tyrone County Library stamps on the title and final pages, and Library stock stamp on the copyright page hand-dated "8/4/32". The number "954" the same as written on the copyright page is written in white on the lower spine. An adhesive fragment, ostensibly from a library sticker, is on the lower front cover. The distinctive orange cloth binding shows a slight forward lean, overall soiling, and fraying to the spine ends, corners, and at points along the joints. The contents appear free of spotting, clean internally (apart from the ex-library markings), the text block edges soiled.India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.d, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$634.97 + shipping
Description: Paperback, Demy 8vo. (7.5 x 5 ins.) Green paper covers, lettered in black. In very good condition. Spine and cover edges darkened. Small rubbed spot to front. One dark foxing spot to edge of title page. No inscriptions. Some occasional minor foxing to pages. Else a very good clean and tight copy. 141pp. Cat.3pp. "India" is, like many of Churchill's speeches, a scarce item. It was simultaneously published in hard-back and in the limp cover edition (see above), both editions equally scarce. "The political significance of this little volume is that the subject matter and Churchill's own stance on the question of India largely contributed to his many years in the wilderness during the 1930's period of personal depression in his political fortunes, yet, curiously, a period of preparation, because by distancing himself from so many others, he then became acceptable to all as wartime Prime Minister." (BMC.)
Seller: PROCTOR / THE ANTIQUE MAP & BOOKSHOP, DORCHESTER, United Kingdom
Price: US$897.93 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: An excellent second and final impression collection of Winston Churchill's speeches relating to India. Containing ten speeches, including speeches on dominion status, the Gandhi-Irwin pact, the landslide, and Britain's duty in India, to name a few.With publisher's advertisements for other works by Churchill to the rear board.The uncommon second and final impression of this work, bound in the excellent original wraps. In the original paper wraps. Externally very smart, with just some slight wear to the head and tail of the spine. Internally, firmly bound. Pages are bright and clean. Near Fine
Seller: Rooke Books PBFA, Bath, United Kingdom
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Limited, London, 1931.
Price: US$900.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, first printing, in the striking but fragile orange softcover ("wraps") binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches, part of his campaign against the India Bill over which he broke with his partys leadership. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance.This first printing is in good plus condition, sound and complete with pardonable aesthetic compromises. The orange wraps binding remains square, the wraps firmly attached, the spine uncreased. This copy appears to be unread. Fractional loss is confined to the spine ends, corners, and one tiny hole just below the printed price on the front cover. The chief detraction is soiling and sunning, the spine and adjacent strips of the covers sunned, the front cover dulled with a stain at the lower right corner. The contents are respectably clean for the edition, age-toning and spotting both mild. We find no previous ownership marks. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.c; Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150. First edition, first printing, wraps issue.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$947.20 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Wrappered issue. Some wear along the spine. Light dulling down to the wraps. Some foxing. Laid in letter which outlines some of the political situation in India from an emloyee of Grndleys bank 54 Paliament St SW1 to a Mr Murray in which he mentions gifting the India book to Mr Murray.
Seller: The Secret Bookshop, Tararua, New Zealand
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Limited, London, 1931.
Price: US$950.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, second and final printing, in the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches as part of his campaign against the India Bill, over which he broke with his partys leadership. The first edition is most commonly found in orange paper wraps. A much rarer version of the first edition was issued in a cased (hardcover) binding, featuring a bright orange coarse cloth. A second printing of the first edition was issued in the same month as the first printing. According to Churchill bibliographer Ronald Cohen: "Few cased copies of the second printing are known." Here is one of those very few - a hardcover first edition, second printing. This copy is in good condition. The striking orange cloth binding is square and tight with sharp corners and bright color. Overall soiling is quite light, the spine shows no appreciable color shift, and light shelf wear is primarily confined to extremities. The chief detraction compelling us to grade this copy as only "good" is insect damage along both hinges. The contents are respectably clean. Age toning is mild. Spotting, endemic to the edition, is light. We find no previous ownership marks. The page edges are clean apart from age-toning and a touch of spotting.India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.d, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Limited, London, 1931.
Price: US$1600.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, second and final printing, in the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches as part of his campaign against the India Bill, over which he broke with his partys leadership. The first edition is most commonly found in orange paper wraps. A much rarer version of the first edition was issued in a cased (hardcover) binding, featuring a bright orange coarse cloth. A second printing of the first edition was issued in the same month as the first printing. According to Churchill bibliographer Ronald Cohen: "Few cased copies of the second printing are known." Here is one of those very few - a hardcover first edition, second printing. This copy is in very good condition. The striking orange cloth binding is tight with light wear to extremities, overall soiling, and a modestly sunned spine. The contents are respectable, with no previous ownership marks and light, intermittent spotting. The fore and bottom edges are clean apart from the spotting, the top edge a bit dusty.India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today. Nonetheless, there is no question that relinquishing India was more than simply a matter of policy. Churchills faith in the British Empires beneficence and destiny could approach obdurate. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to the Labour victory in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948. Reference: Cohen A92.1.d, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Limited, London, 1931.
Price: US$1800.00 + shipping
Description: This is an exceptionally clean and well-preserved first edition, first printing, in the striking but fragile orange softcover ("wraps") binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches, part of his campaign against the India Bill over which he broke with his partys leadership. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance.This first printing is in very good plus condition. The orange wraps binding remains square, the wraps firmly attached, the spine uncreased, clearly unread. The wraps, including the spine, retain strong orange hue and are also quite clean. Trivial loss is confined to the upper and lower front joint and there is only incidental shelf wear to extremities, including a small, faint crease to the lower front corner. The contents are surprisingly bright and clean, with no previous ownership marks. Light spotting appears confined to the bottom edge of the text block. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, and on 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.c; Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150 First edition, first printing, wraps issue.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
CHURCHILL, Winston S.. India. Speeches and an Introduction. Thornton Butterworth, Ltd, London, 1931.
Price: US$1837.82 + shipping
Description: London, Thornton Butterworth, Ltd., 1931(first edition, first impression, the primary variant with the horizontal spine lettering). Octavo, 141, [3] (constitution and aims of the Indian Empire Society) pages. Blind-stamped orange cloth lettered in black on the front cover and horizontally across the spine; cloth very lightly marked on the sides; minute hole in the cloth on the rear joint (clearly a material flaw); spine a little faded, with an unobtrusive library call number (954 Chu) in white ink near the tail faintly visible; later presentation bookplate on the front free endpaper (see below); notwithstanding, a very appealing copy, internally in fine condition. Provenance: Lesley Kilmeny Symon (1885-1969), one of the daughters of Sir Josiah Symon (1846-1934), South Australian lawyer and politician; he was a member of the Australian Senate in the First Australian Parliament, and an Attorney-General of Australia (and much else besides). She gifted the book to St Ann's College (a tertiary residential college in Adelaide) in July 1963; the bookplate establishes the fact. When the book was recently deaccessioned, Ms Symon's name on the bookplate was partially blacked out. Her earlier ownership initials in pencil can still be made out at the head of the page. Cohen A92; Woods A38; Langworth, pages 148-153 ('among the rarest of Churchill's hardbound volumes, much less often seen, for example, than the "Malakand" or "The River War"'); Langworth (Amplified Woods List, second edition) A38(a.1). Woods records that an edition in wrappers was published simultaneously; Langworth notes that 'Softbound copies on the market today outnumber hardbound copies by at least twenty to one, which offers a clue as to their original print runs. The books were printed on pulpy paper, and it is rare to encounter a copy entirely free of spots'.
Seller: Michael Treloar Booksellers ANZAAB/ILAB, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a superb softcover copy of the First English edition in especially beautiful condition. We hesitate to describe any softcover volume this old as mint, but, aside from a smattering of faint foxing to the fore-edges, it is very nearly that. Preserved in a handsome burgundy cloth slipcase. First English Softcover Edition (First Printing) (Cohen A92.1.c) (Woods A38).
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
CHURCHILL, WINSTON S. INDIA SPEECHES. Thornton Butterworth Ltd, London, 1931.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Description: TWO VOLUMES, Identical in content. First edition, first impression is in orange heavy stock paper wrappers. Spine is gently sunned, fore-edge has several faint brown spots, internally crisp and clean. First edition, second impression is in green heavy stock paper wrappers, very minor wear only, internally as nice as the first volume. Each with 144pp. A series of ten speeches on a variety of issues regarding India. See Woods A38. Housed in a fine custom clamshell box with black leather spine label. A very difficult duo to find in this condition. See photos. Size: Crown Octavo
Seller: Glenn Books, ABAA, ILAB, Prairie Village, KS, U.S.A.
Price: US$2244.83 + shipping
Description: [History and Politics] FIRST EDITION, first and second impression in soft covers. Two volumes. Crown octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.141 [3]; pp.141 [3]. With advertisement for the Indian Empire Society at rear. Volumes are identical, except that the first impression is in orange soft covers, and the second is in green. Both volumes titled in black, priced at 1s. Light spotting to edges of both volumes. Clean copies, with some sunning and wear to spine of the first impression, as well as a light crease to the lower corner of the front cover. Very good. Second impression shows light handling only. Near fine. A collection of 10 speeches by Churchill on the future of India, which he firmly believed should remain under direct British rule. A rare and fragile title, now almost unobtainable in hard covers.
Seller: Adrian Harrington Ltd, PBFA, ABA, ILAB, Royal Tunbridge Wells, KENT, United Kingdom
Price: US$2500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a handsome softcover copy of the First English edition in very bright condition. The spine has faded somewhat and there appears to be a sticker shadow across the price printed on the spine but the volume is virtually mint otherwise, with just a touch of faint foxing to the fore-edges. Preserved in a stunning full-leather solander of orange morroco. First English Softcover Edition (First Printing) (Cohen A92.1.c) (Woods A38).
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$2565.52 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression, paired with a copy of the second impression, both in attractive condition in the original wrappers. The book collects Churchill's speeches opposing British moves towards Indian self-governance. Both copies are from the collection of Churchill's bibliographer Ronald Cohen. The 1930s are characterized as Churchill's wilderness years, with his unrelenting opposition to Hitler being seen as the main cause for his ostracism. However, "another, and earlier reason lay in his bitter opposition to Baldwin's India policy. Churchill had always hit hard; not for him a round of gentlemanly sparring between friends. His fight to maintain full control of India employed not just the clenched fist but the bludgeon" (Woods, p. 69). Both impressions were issued in both wrappers and cases simultaneously. Provenance: Ronald Cohen, with his ownership inscription in pencil on each title page. 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. Cohen A92.1.c & A92.1.e; Woods A38. Frederick Woods, Artillery of Words: The Writings of Sir Winston Churchill, 1992. 2 copies, octavo. Original orange printed wrappers (first impression) and green printed wrappers (second impression). Very light bumping at extremities, slight spotting to edges: near-fine, bright copies.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Ltd., London, 1931.
Price: US$2650.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, first printing, in the first variant of the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches, part of his campaign against the India Bill over which he broke with his partys leadership. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance. The first edition is most common in orange paper wraps. An unknown but far smaller number were issued in hardcover bindings, of which there are two variants - one with the spine titled horizontally and one with the spine titled vertically. Churchills bibliographer, Ronald Cohen, gives precedence to the horizontally-titled variant which, in our experience, is also scarcer.This horizontally titled hardcover first printing is in good plus condition, sound and complete, marred, its defects aesthetic rather than substantive. The striking orange cloth binding is square and tight but significantly dulled and grubby, with irregular toning in addition to the soiling and superficial scuffing. The contents are respectably clean. Spotting, endemic to the edition, is quite light, primarily confined to the prelims. Age-toning is modest, manifest only to the page edges. The sole previous ownership mark appears to have been an inked inscription on the upper rear pastedown that is now so faded as to be barely legible and indecipherable. The binding is protected beneath a clear, removable, mylar cover. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.a, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Ltd., London, 1931.
Price: US$2650.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, first printing, in the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches as part of his campaign against the India Bill, over which he broke with his partys leadership. The first edition is most commonly found in orange paper wraps. An unknown but certainly far smaller number of the first printing were issued in hardcover bindings with two variants - one with the spine title reading horizontally and one with the spine title reading vertically.This vertically spine-titled copy is in very good condition. The orange cloth binding is square and tight with sharp corners and minimal shelf wear. The orange hue remains robust, only slightly spine toned. The chief defect is overall soiling, absent which we would grade this copy as near-fine. The contents are quite unusually clean. Spotting is endemic to this edition. Nonetheless, we find no spotting in this copy. Nor do we find any previous ownership marks. Age-toning is quite mild and even the page edges are notably clean. The binding is protected beneath a clear, removable, mylar cover. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.b, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Ltd., 1931.
Price: US$2750.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is the first edition, first printing, in the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches as part of his campaign against the India Bill, over which he broke with his party s leadership. The first edition is most commonly found in orange paper wraps. An unknown but certainly far smaller number were issued in hardcover bindings, of which there are two variants - one with the spine title reading horizontally and one with the spine title reading vertically. This vertically spine-titled copy approaches very good condition, somewhat soiled and sunned but nonetheless fully intact and unrestored. The striking orange cloth remains square and tight, moderately spine sunned with some toning to the perimeter of the covers as well. Wear is light, mostly confined to the spine ends and corners. Differential toning to the endpapers corresponding to dust jacket flaps testify that this copy must have long been protected by the extravagantly rare dust jacket, which regrettably is lost. The contents are mildly age-toned, but otherwise quite clean internally. Spotting, endemic to the edition, is light, substantially confined to the top edge of the text block, which also shows dust soiling. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchill s "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today. Nonetheless, there is no question that relinquishing India was more than simply a matter of policy. Churchill s faith in the British Empire s beneficence and destiny could approach obdurate. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the King s First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchill s wartime premiership fell to the Labour victory in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlee s Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the world s most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948. Reference: Cohen A92.1.b, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$2850.00 + shipping
Description: This is a first edition, first printing finely bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches, part of his campaign against the India Bill over which he broke with his partys leadership. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance.The binding features three-quarter red Morocco goatskin over red cloth. The spine features raised and gilt-decorated spine bands bracketed by blind rules, gilt-ruled compartments, a swan design in the upper compartment, title in the second compartment, author in the third compartment, and publication date at the spine heel. All transitions are gilt-ruled. The contents are bound with gilt top edge, silk head and tail bands, and marbled endpapers. "BOUND BY SANGORSKI & SUTCLIFFE, LONDON. ENGLAND" is stamped on the upper left corner of the front free endpaper recto. We find no previous ownership marks. Condition is very good plus. The binding is square, tight, bright, and clean with trivial shelf scuffing substantially confined to the corners and the bottom edges of the cloth panels. The first printing contents are well-suited to the fine binding. We find no previous ownership marks. Spotting, endemic to the edition, is quite light, primarily confined to the fore and bottom edges and just a few spots to the terminal leaves. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Ltd., London, 1931.
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: This is the first edition, first printing, in the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches as part of his campaign against the India Bill, over which he broke with his partys leadership. The first edition is most commonly found in orange paper wraps. An unknown but certainly far smaller number of the first printing were issued in hardcover bindings with two variants - one with the spine title reading horizontally and one with the spine title reading vertically.This vertically spine-titled copy is in very good condition. The orange cloth binding is square and tight with sharp corners and minimal shelf wear. The orange hue remains robust, only mildly spine toned. The chief defect is overall soiling, absent which we would grade this copy as near-fine. The contents are atypically bright and clean for the edition. Spotting is primarily confined to the page edges, with only light internal spotting to the first few leaves. The sole previous ownership name, inked on the upper front free endpaper recto, is contemporary, dated "Oct. 1934." The only other marks we find are a tiny, cryptic "13120" inked on the upper left front pastedown. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees Government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.b, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. India. Thornton Butterworth Ltd., London, 1931.
Price: US$3200.00 + shipping
Description: This first edition, first printing, is the first variant of the quite scarce hardcover binding. India is a collection of ten Churchill speeches, part of his campaign against the India Bill over which he broke with his partys leadership. Though his cause was lost, these speeches are considered to contain some of the finest examples of Churchill's rhetorical brilliance. The first edition is most common in orange paper wraps. An unknown fraction were issued in hardcover bindings, of which there are two variants - one spine-titled horizontally and one vertically. Churchills bibliographer, Ronald Cohen, gives precedence to the horizontally-titled variant which, in our experience, is also scarcer.This horizontally-titled hardcover first printing is in good plus condition, sound, complete, and notably clean within. The striking orange cloth binding is square, tight, and sharp-cornered with only mild spine toning. The chief defects are modest overall soiling and evidence of mild, superficial moisture exposure to the upper right front cover. The contents are compellingly clean. Spotting is endemic to the edition, but here there is only a faint hint of it confined to the top edges of the text block. The sole previous ownership mark is contemporary an inked name and "1933" date on the upper front pastedown. The only apparent internal toning is some transfer browning to the endpapers from the pastedown glue. The binding is protected with a clear, removable, mylar cover. India is, in many ways, an archetypal work of Churchills "wilderness years" in the 1930s, which saw him out of power and out of favor, unable to leverage the policies to which he nonetheless applied himself with characteristic vigor and eloquence. Churchill spent formative time as a young 19th century cavalry officer fighting on the northwest Indian frontier, about which he would write his first published book. He certainly did not adopt an early progressive attitude toward relinquishing control over the crown jewel of Britain's colonial empire. Nonetheless, it is instructive to remember that many of Churchill's dire warnings about Indian independence proved prophetic. Churchill had warned that too swift a British withdrawal from India would lead to bloody civil war and sectarian strife between Hindus and Muslims, Hindu domination, and destabilizing political balkanization of the subcontinent. All these predictions came to pass and, to a considerable extent, persist today.Nonetheless, relinquishing India seemed more than simply a matter of policy. There was perhaps more than just characteristic wartime defiance in his 10 November 1942 utterance, "We have not entered this war for profit or expansion Let me, however, make this clear I have not become the Kings First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire. For that task, if ever it were prescribed, someone else would have to be found." Someone else was found; Churchills wartime premiership fell to Labour in the July 1945 General Election, relegating Churchill to Leader of the Opposition. In that capacity Churchill addressed the House of Commons on 6 March 1947 regarding the Indian Independence Bill of Prime Minister Clement Attlees government: "It is with deep grief I watch the clattering down of the British Empire, with all its glories and all the services it has rendered to mankind at least, let us not add by shameful flight, by a premature, hurried scuttle to the pangs of sorrow so many of us feel, the taint and smear of shame." On 15 August 1947 the Indian Independence Bill took effect, creating the independent nations of India and Pakistan and birthing the worlds most populous democracy in what was arguably the largest single act of political liberation in history. Independence also unfettered religious and communal strife that has lethally festered and flared ever since, claiming Gandhi himself in January 1948.Reference: Cohen A92.1.a, Woods/ICS A38(a), Langworth p.150.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: "Few cased copies of [INDIA's] second printing are known," wrote bibliographer Ronald Cohen in his new Churchill bibliography. Here is one such copy in astonishing condition, unjacketed, and virtually mint. The cloth retains its orange brilliance uniformly with no spine fade. There is a pinpoint of wear in the cloth at the rear joint. The contents are fine and unfoxed with a previous owner's name (and village in India: "Gorumahisani") inscribed in ink on the front free endpaper. The near-perfect example of a prized rarity. First English Edition (Second Printing) (Cohen A92.1.d) (Woods A38).
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$5000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This very infrequently encountered variant hardcover binding of the First Edition has spine type that is printed vertically, rather than horizontally. Bibliographer Ronald Cohen speculates that the original binding blocks for the first hardcover edition may have been scrapped after a very brief print run, but that unexpected strong sales sent the publisher back for a hurried reprint. This required using the blocks for the paperback edition, which had the spine type laid out vertically One way or another, this is a terrifically rare volume in lovely condition, lacking the original dust jacket. The orange cloth has faded modestly but the black lettering is bright on both the front face and the spine. The binding is square and the corners sharp. The contents are clean and unfoxed, with a discreet circular ink stamp on the title page and again on Page 141 at the rear identifying this copy as originating from the: "Manchester Reform Club Library." The contents conform to the standard hardcover first edition. First English Edition (First Printing) (Cohen A92.1.b) (Woods A38).
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$6500.00 + shipping
Description: This authors presentation copy of the scarce hardcover issue of India is inscribed by Winston S. Churchill to James Craig, first Viscount Craigavon and first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, with whom Churchill had worked closely for the previous decade to establish and secure peace between northern and southern Irish states. The inscription, inked in black in five lines on the front free endpaper, reads: "To | Craigavon | from | Winston S. Churchill | 1931. June". This first edition, second and final impression was issued in late May, following the first printing of 27 May 1931. Hence this copy was potentially inscribed within days of publication. This is a remarkable association copy of a book almost never encountered signed, let alone inscribed, and certainly not in this, the scarcest of the first edition binding variants. It also bears the cringe-worthy evidence of previous ownership by a former mayor of Beverly Hills, California, who was clearly more narcissist than bibliophile. ConditionCondition is generally very good. The distinctive orange cloth binding is square and tight with only modest overall soiling, slight color shift to the spine, and trivial wear to extremities. The contents show only light spotting, primarily confined to the page edges, with occasional intrusions into the inner margins. What mars this remarkable association copy is its secondary and far lesser association, namely its previous ownership by Hugh W. Darling (1901-1986), a former Mayor of Beverly Hills (elected 1960) and President of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. This copy was acquired directly from the estate of Darling in the late 1980s. In a singular act of ill-advised vandalism, Darling inked "Hugh W. Darling | From H.S.D." one inch below Churchills gift inscription. "H.S.D." is presumably Darlings wife, Hazel, from whom Darling ostensibly received the book as a gift. Inked above and to the right of Churchills inscription are two dates. "Dec. 25, 1967" is inked in red above "Jan 1, 1968" in blue.Further marks within the text are, mercifully, in pencil rather than in ink. While we have left this underlining intact, it appears erasable. Underling appears in blue or red colored pencil on pages 10, 11, 23, 46, 47, 50, 60, 62, 65-68, 72, 85, 104, 112, 115, 120, 124, 126, and 138. One plausible explanation is that the 1967 and 1968 dates written in red and blue ink on the upper right of the front free endpaper denote when this underlining was done. However, we note that the underlining is in pencil while the dates are inked and that colored pencils were commercially available before this presentation copy was inscribed by Churchill for James Craig. Despite being marred by a doltish philistine of a previous owner, this remains a remarkable association copy of a book almost never seen signed, let alone inscribed. The AssociationJames Craig, (1871-1940), first Viscount Craigavon, served as first Prime Minister of Northern Ireland from 1921 until his death in 1940. From the early 1920s on, he and Churchill worked closely together, forging both Craigs nation and a deep mutual regard.This association inscription is splendidly charged with irony. Churchill vigorously opposed Indian independence on the grounds that it would unleash the destructive potential of religious strife, lead to bitter partition and disputed borders, and unleash sectarian violence. Churchill came to support Irish Home Rule which entailed both a bitter partition and fueled the ensuing better part of a century of sectarian violence and territorial disputes. James Craig was a vehement opponent of Irish independence, though he became the first Prime Minister for Northern Ireland and worked - closely with Churchill - to ensure the viability and perpetuation of a self-governing Northern Ireland.Lord Craigavon died in office on 24 November 1940, six months after Churchill became wartime Prime Minister.Reference: Cohen A92.1.d, Woods/ICS A38(a.2), Langworth p.150
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.