Available Copies from Independent Booksellers
Price: US$60.91 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Purple cloth on boards with gilt titles and gilt Marlborough crest on front. Faint dusting of a little soiling. Shelf-sunned. Spine: foot with thin bumping and cracks. Tiny bumping to boards bottom fore corners. Edges: gilt top-edge slightly rubbed & scratched; mild foxing and soiling to fore and bottom edge. Eps: signaturre to head ffep; faint sprinkles of foxings. Frontis: illustration of John, Duke of Marlborough. Just a few pages with few only foxings to the margins mostly. B/w illustrations. Binding is VG+. 612p
Seller: BOOKMARK, Auckland, New Zealand
Winston Churchill. Marlborough - His Life and Times - Volume 1. George Harrap, London, 1933.
Price: US$64.13 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Top edge gilt. October 1933 reprint. Proptected by mylar jacket. Tape marks to endpapers (from the tape securing the mylar jacket). Internally very clean, bright & tight - no inscriptions. Pullout plans etc in great condition.
Seller: Cotswold Rare Books, OXFORDSHIRE, United Kingdom
Price: US$66.70 + shipping
Condition: Fair
Description: Publication date (Vol. I): 'first published 1933' plus in the Preface: August 13, 1933, Chartwell, Westerham. Publication date (Vol. II): 'first published 1934' plus in the Preface: August 13, 1934, Chartwell, Westerham. The latter preface also references the task of a final volume. Impressively curated books filled with illustrations (mainly b/w) including plates, facsimiles of letters, plans and maps (including a fold-out map with colouring in vol. II - see image). Condition - comments apply to both volumes unless stated otherwise. External: cerulean blue cloth of boards with slightly darker hue along the spine. Some fading/marking in places, curling at corners, some crushing at head and tail of spine. Internal: the pages are moderately tanned with occasional spotting; more evident on the preliminary and final ones. Slightly more tanning on the first volume. In addition, while the front pastedowns of both books feature some pencil annotations (about versions/editions), those in vol. I are much longer. pp. vol. I: 611/8vo, vol. II: 649/8vo. More information/photos available on request. Please note that, due to the weight of the two volumes, we may well request a payment to cover any extra shipping/postage charges. Proceeds to Amnesty International. Abe2409.
Seller: Amnesty Bookshop - Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom
Price: US$96.20 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: Burgundy cloth with gilt stamped coat of arms to front; many fold outs and illustrations, maps and plates. Vol I: pp. 612. Vol II: 651. Both spines sunned. International customers please note these volumes constitute a monumentally large parcel that will incur further postage charges.
Seller: Rattlesnake Books, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$750.00 + shipping
Description: Volume 1 is an early reprint. Volumes 2, 3, and 4 are 1st editions Good with lightly rubbed and bumped edges. Pages are slightly yellowed, and several have light foxing. Slightly faded spines, with a few stains and spots from moisture Fair with bumped and chipped edges. Several wide losses from the corners and spine ends. Stained and spotted from moisture. Faintly soiled. In dust jacket protectors Red cloth with gilt embossing and top edge
Seller: Weller Book Works, A.B.A.A., Salt Lake City, UT, U.S.A.
Price: US$900.00 + shipping
Description: Four volumes uniformly-bound. Top edges gilt. The Marlborough coat-of-arms in gilt on front covers, spines lettered in gilt. The first three volumes show uniform fading of the spines, as is usually the case, Volume 4 shows the deep color preserved. Portrait frontispiece in each volume, with 99 additional plates, 14 letter facsimiles, and 182 maps and plans, some folded. Volume 1, published in 1933, iv, 557pp; Volume 2, 1934, iv, 605; Volume 3, iv,556pp.; and Volume 4, iv, 652pp. John Marlborough ( 1650-1722), the first Duke of Marlborough, was an English soldier and statesman. Winston Churchill was his direct descendant, through his father's lineage. A very crisp and clean set throughout. See photos. Size: Medium Demi Octavo
Seller: Glenn Books, ABAA, ILAB, Prairie Village, KS, U.S.A.
Price: US$950.00 + shipping
Description: This is a full, jacketed set of the unusual and scarce Canadian issue of the first edition. Marlborough is Winston Churchills monumental biography of his great ancestor, John Churchill, the first Duke of Marlborough. This Canadian issue, like its British counterpart, is four volumes published individually between 1933 and 1938. Also like their British first edition counterparts, these Canadian issues are physically impressive. The books measure 9.25 x 6.25 inches (23.5 x 15.9 cm) and are roughly 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick, each volume with a profusion of illustrations, facsimiles, maps, and plans. However, the Canadian first editions are far more scarce than their British counterparts with subtle differences in appearance and presentation. The Canadian editions of the first three volumes were issued by Ryerson Press instead of Harrap, bound in a dark purple cloth instead of the plum of the British edition, featuring dark purple top edge stain instead of the gilt of the British editions, without the British editions beveled-edge boards, and omitting the Churchill arms from the front covers. The dust jackets appear nearly identical, differing only in "Ryerson Press" in lieu of "Harrap" printed on the lower spine and omission of front flap pricing. The third volume is also the last issued by Ryerson; the fourth and final "Canadian" volume was issued instead by Harrap, since by 1938 arrangements between Harrap and Ryerson had ended. Hence the Canadian Volume IV issue was a strange hybrid, with the dark purple binding of the preceding three Canadian issues with the non-beveled edge boards, but with the Churchill Arms in gilt on the front cover, gilt top edges instead of dark purple topstain, and "Harrap" instead of "Ryerson" on the lower jacket spine, lower binding spine, and title page.We seldom are able to offer full Canadian sets of Marlborough, particularly in dust jackets. This full, jacketed set features volumes varying from good plus to very good plus in dust jackets ranging from poor to very good minus. All four volumes feature square and tight bindings with sharp corners. Beyond minor shelf wear to extremities, flaws include the following. Volume I: some toning, scuffing, and staining. Volume II: mild sunning to the spine head consonant with small dust jacket losses. Volume III: mild moisture exposure to the bottom edges. Volume IV: a hint of blistering to the upper front cover fore edge. The contents of all four volumes are crisp and clean. We find no spotting and no previous owner names. Mild age-toning is visible at the otherwise clean fore and bottom edges. A Montreal bookseller sticker is affixed to the lower left Volume IV front free endpaper recto. The dust jackets are noteworthy just for being present, but certainly a mixed bag in terms of condition. The Volume I jacket is soiled and worn with sizable losses to the spine ends, as well as a shallow strip loss to the upper front face, small chips to the upper rear face, and a price-clipped lower front flap. The unclipped Volume II jacket has loss at the spine head, a toned spine, a scratch to the rear face, and minor wear to extremities. The Volume III jacket is nearly complete, with only fractional loss at the spine head, but with a toned spine and moisture staining to the spine heel and lower rear flap fold corner. The Volume IV jacket is bright and unclipped with minimal spine toning, though with a stain to the spine and loss and abrasion to the spine heel. All four jackets are protected beneath clear, removable, archival covers.Marlborough took 10 years of research and writing and is the most substantial published work of Churchill's "wilderness years" in the 1930s. When Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953, it was partly for "mastery of historical and biographical description" on the strength of Marlborough, which was specifically cited and quoted by the Swedish Academy.Reference: Cohen A97.3, Woods/ICS A40(ac), Langworth p.169.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$962.00 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 611, 651, 608, 671 pp., 3 of 4 first editions. Green cloth binding vellum spine and green title labels with top edge gilt. Some marks to the bindings and patches of loss to the title labels and slight wear to the extremities. Some minor scattered spotting and some staining to the the frontis and front of volume 3. Illustrated with prints, maps and letters throughout. Volume one is a 2nd impression published the same month as the first edition, volumes 2-4 are first editions. 8vo. Illustrated
Seller: Foster Books - Stephen Foster - ABA, ILAB, & PBFA, London, United Kingdom
Price: US$1200.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a very good First English edition set, without dust jackets. The spines of the first three volumes are nominally less faded than usual for this very fade-prone set, while the spine of Volume IV is virtually unfaded. There is a former owner name inked on the title page of Volume I. The contents are otherwise fine. First English Edition Set (Cohen A97.2[I-IV].a) (Woods A40aa). 8vo (2,500+ pages, illustrated with portraits,maps, plans.)
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$1250.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Four volume set. Volume 1 has no dust jacket. Volumes 2, 3, and 4 have dust jacket. Volume 1 has sun-fading to spine, gift inscription on front free endpapers of all four volumes. Bookplate on front endpaper of all four. All four books are first editions, first printings 1933. 1934, 1936, 1938. Heavy shading to half-title page of volume 1 where newspaper articles was laid in. Dust jacket of volume 2 missing area at bottom of spine, book sunned on spine where dust jacket is missing, dust jacket has other small tears to edges, chips and pieces missing from the edges, crease entire length of back cover, darkening to spine, in a protective cover. Volume three also has shading on half-title page where newspaper article laid in. Some darkening to dust jacket spine, in a protective cover. Volume four has darkening and shading to half-title page. Dust jacket has small tears to edges, in a protective cover. Typed note about contents of book glued to the rear free endpaper.
Seller: Manchester By The Book, Manchester-By-the-Sea, MA, U.S.A.
Price: US$1250.61 + shipping
Description: First editions, first impressions. Churchill's biography of the first Duke of Marlborough, his ancestor who led Allied forces to victory against Louis XIV, "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a). 4 volumes, large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front covers, top edges gilt. Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Spines unevenly sunned as often, light foxing. A very good set.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$1410.94 + shipping
Condition: Good
Description: 4 Volumes. All 1st Editions except Vol 1 which is a 1st Ed 2nd Printing. Pages bright with some spotting in places. Binding tight. Boards have some shelf wear including bumping and rubbing. Foxing and spotting to end papers/pastedowns. Previous owner inscription to front of Vol 1. Small bookseller sticker to bottom of front pastedown (vol 2 & 3) . Spotting/dampstaining to closed edges. Dust jackets have rubbing/spotting and chipping to edges including some loss to edges. Vol 1 DJ has a paint spray/splatter across the back cover. Protective plastic wrapping has been applied to all four DJs. Please get in touch if you require further details and/or photos. Size: 8vo
Seller: Bookcase, Carlisle, United Kingdom
Price: US$1539.21 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Four volumes. Volume One first reprint 1933, remaining volumes first editions. Ex-libris Maynard Smith Library, with small stamp to front fly-leaf. IN ORIGINAL DUST-JACKETS unclipped each priced 25 shillings, a little rubbed to head, occasionally lightly marked, closed tear to the M of Volume 3 (see photo), number written to foot of spines of djs, and to spines, internally in very good, bright condition. Please note that the first volume is the first reprint, but a nice set, increasingly rare in the dust jackets. Further photographs provided with pleasure upon request.
Seller: Celsus Books, PBFA., London, United Kingdom
CHURCHILL, WINSTON S.. Marlborough: His Life and Times. George G. Harrap & Co., London, 1933.
Price: US$2000.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: Four (4) volumes in gilt lettered purple cloth.Wrapped in decorative dust jackets. All are first editions excepting that volume1 has a second state dust jacket. This is Churchill's massive biography of his ancestor which garnered good reviews at the time. Some foxing to outside edges. Dust jackets on volumes 2 and 3 with chipping. Inscription on endpaper of vol 11. General wear and mild staining. Vg set of firsts. Size: 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall
Seller: Contact Editions, ABAC, ILAB, Toronto, ON, Canada
Price: US$2565.35 + shipping
Description: 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. Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a [for first trade editions]. Richard Langworth, A Connoisseur's Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill, 1998. 4 volumes, 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.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3000.00 + shipping
Description: First editions of each volume of Churchill's important biography of his notable ancestor, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, marbled endpapers, with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. In near fine condition. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn't win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England's diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. "The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science." - Leo Strauss, University of Chicago "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other" (Henry Steele Commager). âThough it was a commissioned work, Churchill would not have invested nearly a million words and ten years had it not had special significance for him. For he wrote about a man who was not only his ancestor, an invincible general, the first of what became the Spencer-Churchill dukes of Marlborough, and a maker of modern Britain, but also a supreme example of heroism in the two vocations which mainly interested Churchill and in which ultimate triumph seemed to have eluded himâ" politics and war makingâ (Wiedhorn, 110). âIt may be his greatest book. To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough. Only in its pages can one glean an understanding of the root of the speeches which inspired Britain to stand when she had little to stand withâ (Langworth, 164).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$3206.68 + shipping
Description: First editions, first impressions. Churchill's biography of the first Duke of Marlborough, his ancestor who led Allied forces to victory against Louis XIV, "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a). 4 volumes, large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front covers, top edges gilt. With dust jackets. Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Later ownership signature to front free endpaper of vols. I and III, contemporary ownership label to front free endpaper of vol. IV. Cloth bright and contents clean, volume I with split in hinge preceding title page; jackets with light wear at extremities, spine panels sunned, a little soiled, slight split at foot of jacket of vol. I, prices intact. A near-fine set in very good jackets.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$3500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: This is a very good First English edition set, in the very rare dust jackets, which are generally in exceptional condition, a trifle edge-chipped, else fine. Volume I jacket is neatly price-clipped, but correct, the others are unclipped. Volume II jacket has a few faint ink marks and creases on the spine, and a modest dampstain on an upper corner of the rear face. The books are in remarkable condition; the fade-prone cloth virtually unfaded, the gilded tops bright, the contents fine and unfoxed. First English Edition Set (Cohen A97.2[I-IV].a) (Woods A40aa). 8vo (2,500+ pages, illustrated with portraits,maps, plans.)
Seller: CHARTWELL BOOKSELLERS, NEW YORK, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$3900.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols., 9-1/16" x 6-1/4", illustrated, fold-out plates. Bound in 1/2 red morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spines, all edges gilt, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, by Asprey. Inner and outer hinges fine, head and foot of spines fine, internally clean and bright, overall VERY GOOD.
Seller: D&D Galleries - ABAA, Somerville, NJ, U.S.A.
Price: US$4200.00 + shipping
Description: First editions of each volume of Churchill's important biography of his notable ancestor, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, bound in full morocco by The Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, signature to the front panel of each volume, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, all edges gilt, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn't win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England's diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. "The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science." - Leo Strauss, University of Chicago "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other" (Henry Steele Commager). âThough it was a commissioned work, Churchill would not have invested nearly a million words and ten years had it not had special significance for him. For he wrote about a man who was not only his ancestor, an invincible general, the first of what became the Spencer-Churchill dukes of Marlborough, and a maker of modern Britain, but also a supreme example of heroism in the two vocations which mainly interested Churchill and in which ultimate triumph seemed to have eluded himâ" politics and war makingâ (Wiedhorn, 110). âIt may be his greatest book. To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough. Only in its pages can one glean an understanding of the root of the speeches which inspired Britain to stand when she had little to stand withâ (Langworth, 164).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$4500.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols., 9" x 6-1/4", illustrated with 4 portrait frontispieces, numerous plates, facsimiles, maps and plans, bound in fine full dark blue morocco, ribbed gilt decorated spine, covers ruled in gilt, gilt signature of Churchill to front cover, gilt dentelles, marbled pastedowns and endpapers, all edges gilt, by Sangorski & Sutcliffe/Zaehnsdorf. Internally clean and bright, no previous ownership markings, inscriptions, or bookplate, inner and outer hinges fine, head and foot of spine fine, A FINE SET. Churchill's ancestor the 1st Duke of Marlborough led allied forces to victory against Louis XIV. Churchill worked on this his biography for almost a decade, and was given exclusive access to the Blenheim archives to research the book. On publication, this work "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB).
Seller: D&D Galleries - ABAA, Somerville, NJ, U.S.A.
Winston S. Churchill. Marlborough: His Life & Times. George G. Harrap & Co, London, 1933.
Price: US$5500.00 + shipping
Condition: Very Good
Description: First Edition. Leather Bound. H: 9", D: 6", W: 2" 4 Volumes. Winston Churchill, Marlborough: His Life & Times. First Edition. Bound by Frost & Co. in 3/4 blue morocco and linen boards with the raised band spines gilt-tooled. The tip edge is gilt with marbled endpapers. London: George G. Harrap & Co., 1933.
Seller: Imperial Fine Books ABAA, ILAB, New York, NY, U.S.A.
Price: US$8337.38 + shipping
Description: First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the month of publication "To Ernest Poulter from Winston S. Churchill Oct 1933". Poulter supplied Churchill with the print, "The Mauritshuis at the Hague", which is reproduced facing page 540, with Poulter acknowledged. Churchill's biography "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Provenance: Sotheby's, 16 December 1974, lot 139; the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A97.2(I).a. Large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front cover, top edge gilt. Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Slight sunning to spine and extremities as often, light foxing. A very good copy.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$12500.00 + shipping
Description: First edition of Churchill's magisterial biography of his notable ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. Octavo, 4 volumes, original cloth, top edge gilt, illustrated with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. Association copy, inscribed by Winston Churchill on the front free endpaper of volume IV, "To Maurice Ashley from Winston Churchill August 1938." The recipient, Maurice Ashley worked as a research assistant to Winston Churchill for four years during which he was working on the Marlborough biography. Ashley is also the author of Churchill as Historian (1968), which discusses how Churchill approached historical research. Each volume is very good in a very good dust jacket. Vol. I with a price-clipped dust jacket. An exceptional example. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn't win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England's diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. "The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science." - Leo Strauss, University of Chicago "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other" (Henry Steele Commager). âThough it was a commissioned work, Churchill would not have invested nearly a million words and ten years had it not had special significance for him. For he wrote about a man who was not only his ancestor, an invincible general, the first of what became the Spencer-Churchill dukes of Marlborough, and a maker of modern Britain, but also a supreme example of heroism in the two vocations which mainly interested Churchill and in which ultimate triumph seemed to have eluded himâ" politics and war makingâ (Wiedhorn, 110). âIt may be his greatest book. To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough. Only in its pages can one glean an understanding of the root of the speeches which inspired Britain to stand when she had little to stand withâ (Langworth, 164).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Churchill, Sir Winston -. Marlborough: His Life And Times.. George G. Harrap., London:, 1933.
Price: US$13000.00 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL on front blank of Volume I. Magnificently bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in 3/4 crushed tan morocco over marbled boards. Spine in six compartments lettered and ruled in gilt; t.e.g. Some very light rubbing otherwise near fine. Illustrated with maps, plans and facsimile documents. One million words long and ten years in the making, Churchill's Marlborough stands as both a literary and historical masterpiece. Size: 8vo.
Seller: Quaker Hill Books, Redding, CT, U.S.A.
Price: US$14301.81 + shipping
Condition: Near Fine
Description: First Edition:First Printing:A 4 Volume Fine/Near Fine Signed Limited Edition set bound by Leighton Straker Ltd in full orange morocco with five raised bands to the spine, spine decorated with gilt lettering,Marlborough family arms in gilt to the front board, top of pages gilt, marbled endpapers.This SIGNED Limited Edition is one of only 155 sets produced of which only 150 sets were for sale.Volume 1 is signed by Churchill on the Limited Edition page and this set is numbered 48. Book Condition:Volume 1:A Near Fine copy, very gently rubbed top and bottom of the spine, top two corners gently rubbed, top and bottom edge of spine very gently toned, signed by Churchill without dedication to the Limited Edition page, small sticker on front paste down of William Henry Abbey a famous Brewer.Industrialist and Landowner, internally very clean and bright, tight binding.Volume 2:A Fine copy, top two corners very gently rubbed, small sticker on front paste down of William Henry Abbey, internally very clean and bright, tight binding.Volume 3:A Fine copy, very gently bumped top and bottom of the spine, very small mark to back board, internally very clean and bright, tight binding.Volume 4:A Fine copy, internally very clean and bright tight binding. This is the only SIGNED Limited Trade Edition in all of Churchill's works and one of only two publishers leather bound First Edition sets.Overall an exceptional Fine/Near Fine 4 Volume Signed Limited First Edition set.The Marlborough set is one million words long and took Churchill ten years to produce and it is certainly Churchill's greatest biography and some say perhaps his greatest ever works. Free UK and International Shipping on this book set.
Seller: Bawnmore Fine and Rare Books, Rugby, United Kingdom
Churchill, Winston S. Marlborough: His Life and Times.. George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd, London, 1933.
Price: US$20000.00 + shipping
Description: Signed limited edition of Churchill's magisterial biography of his notable ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; Churchill's only work produced as a signed limited edition. Quarto, 4 volumes in the original publisher's full morocco bound by Leighton-Straker with gilt Marlborough family crest to the front panel of each volume, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with hundreds of maps and plans (many folding), plates and document facsimiles. One of one hundred and fifty-five numbered copies signed by the author of which one hundred and five were for sale, this is number 30. Provenance: from the library of Sidney Thomson Fisher with bookplate to each pastedown. In near fine condition. An exceptional set. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough (1644-1722), was one of the greatest military commanders and statesmen in the history of England. Victorious in the Battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns, Marlborough, whose political intrigues were almost as legendary as his military skill, never fought a battle he didn't win. Although he helped James II crush the rebellion of the Duke of Monmouth, Marlborough later supported William of Orange against James II in the Glorious Revolution of 1688 and brilliantly managed England's diplomatic triumphs during the War of the Spanish Succession. "The greatest historical work written in our century, an inexhaustible mine of political wisdom and understanding, which should be required reading for every student of political science." - Leo Strauss, University of Chicago "Rarely in the history of historical writing have author and subject seemed so made for each other" (Henry Steele Commager). âThough it was a commissioned work, Churchill would not have invested nearly a million words and ten years had it not had special significance for him. For he wrote about a man who was not only his ancestor, an invincible general, the first of what became the Spencer-Churchill dukes of Marlborough, and a maker of modern Britain, but also a supreme example of heroism in the two vocations which mainly interested Churchill and in which ultimate triumph seemed to have eluded himâ" politics and war makingâ (Wiedhorn, 110). âIt may be his greatest book. To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough. Only in its pages can one glean an understanding of the root of the speeches which inspired Britain to stand when she had little to stand withâ (Langworth, 164).
Seller: Raptis Rare Books, Palm Beach, FL, U.S.A.
Price: US$25653.46 + shipping
Description: First edition, signed limited issue, number 55 of 155 copies signed by the author. This is the only signed limited issue of any of Churchill's writings; few sets retain the original slipcases, fewer still in such nice condition. Churchill's ancestor the 1st Duke of Marlborough led allied forces to victory against Louis XIV. Churchill worked on his biography for almost a decade, and was given exclusive access to the Blenheim archives to research the book. On publication, the work "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth, pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a). 4 volumes, large octavo. Original orange Niger goatskin by Leighton-Straker, spines lettered in gilt with single gilt rule at head and tail, raised bands bracketed by rules in blind, Marlborough's arms in gilt to front covers, marbled endpapers, top edges gilt, others untrimmed. In the original plain card slipcases with printed paper labels to the backs, described by Cohen as "merely cardboard shipping cases. generally. discarded". Portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding. Faint discolouration at spine ends, slipcases lightly rubbed but far fresher than usual, a near-fine set.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom
Price: US$27500.00 + shipping
Description: This signed, limited, and finely bound publisher's presentation set of Churchill's Marlborough would be remarkable for condition alone, but this is also one of just five unnumbered sets reserved by the publisher. This is the only one of the five known to be hand-marked as "Presentation". Churchill signed just below the limitation statement "Winston S. Churchill". But this copy is also inscribed by the publisher. Just above Churchills signature in the space where the limitation number would normally be written, the word "Presentation" is inked. On the half title, in four lines in the publishers hand, is inked the inscription "To Steve | from | George | 1933." Condition is excellent, approaching near fine. The spines are only lightly sunned, that of Volume I showing a few freckles. Light spotting appears primarily confined to the untrimmed fore edges, only occasionally and lightly encroaching into the text blocks. The card slipcases are fully intact with only light shelf wear, the back of the Volume II case slightly spotted. As kindly confirmed by the Harrap family, "George" is George Steward Harrap, son of Harraps founder, George Godfrey Harrap, who died in 1938, the year the fourth and final volume of Marlborough was published. George Steward Harraps son stated it "highly likely" that "Steve" was the artist and illustrator Stephen Frederick Gooden R.A., R.E., C.B.E. (1892-1955), a close friend of the younger Harrap. Gooden not only illustrated a number of Harrap books notably their Aesop and Rubaiyat but also designed the elder Harraps bookplate, featuring a winged horse clearing the bar of an "H". This was a clever conception, since a colloquial British term for horse was "gee-gee", these being the initials of George Godfrey. Churchills Marlborough is the only work by Churchill for which the publisher issued a signed, limited, and finely bound first edition. Harrap produced 155 signed sets, printed on thick, laid paper with untrimmed fore and bottom edges and sumptuously bound by Leighton Straker in reddish-orange Niger Morocco with gilt top edges, head and tail bands, and marbled endpapers. Volume I of each set was signed by Churchill on the limitation page and each volume was issued in a gray cardboard slipcase with paper spine labels, the Volume I labels also featuring the set number. Five sets were unnumbered, reserved as special gifts from either the author or publisher. Both Ronald Cohen and Richard Langworth cite the word "special" handwritten on the colophon. This set is the only one of the five known to be designated "Presentation" presumably one of a kind. Winston Churchill's biography of John Churchill was initially conceived a full 40 years before publication of the final volume. Churchill originally considered the idea of the biography in 1898, returning to it in earnest in 1928. Marlborough ultimately took 10 years of research and writing and is the most substantial published work of Churchill's 1930s "wilderness years". As he wrote, Churchill passed into his sixties with his own future as uncertain as that of his nation and may have wondered more than once if the life history he was writing might ultimately eclipse his own. It has been said "To understand the Churchill of the Second World War, the majestic blending of his commanding English with historical precedent, one has to read Marlborough." Few would accuse Churchill of objectivity. Nonetheless, T. E. Lawrence wrote in praise upon finishing Volume I "It is history, solemn and decorative." Upon reading the proofs, James Lewis Garvin, editor of The Observer, wrote "I think it to be the greatest of all your works Your full brush has never had more mastery over space and colour " When Churchill was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1953, it was partly for "mastery of historical and biographical description" on the strength of Marlborough, which was specifically cited and quoted by the Swedish Academy. Reference: Cohen A97.1.a, Woods/ICS A40(a), Langworth p.168. Signed and limited issue of the first edition.
Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.
Price: US$48100.24 + shipping
Description: First editions, first impressions, both presentation copies, inscribed by the author on the half-title of Volume I, "To Ian Hamilton from Winston S. Churchill Nov. 1933", and the first blank of Volume II, "To Ian from Winston Oct 21. 1934". His military mentor and friend of more than 60 years, Ian Hamilton was one of the most significant figures in Churchill's life. Churchill first served with Hamilton, 21 years his senior, on the north-west frontier of India in 1897. As a friend of Churchill's mother, Hamilton helped obtain permissions for Churchill's participation in the India campaign, and the Boer War in South Africa. In April 1900 Churchill joined the column commanded by Hamilton as it advanced through the Orange Free State to the Transvaal, and he immortalized his commander in his second book on the conflict, Ian Hamilton's March (1900). Their names were to be linked again in less happy circumstances during the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, organized by Churchill and commanded by Hamilton. The failure of the campaign was to be a temporary setback for Churchill, but effectively ended Hamilton's career. They remained close until Hamilton's death in 1947, and in 1957 Churchill unveiled the memorial to him in St Paul's Cathedral, describing his friend as "a brilliant and chivalrous man". Churchill worked on the biography of Marlborough, his ancestor who led allied forces to victory against Louis XIV, for almost a decade, and was given exclusive access to the Blenheim archives. The work "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Volume I was published 6 October 1933 and Volume II on 20 October 1934 (here inscribed the day before publication). Two further volumes were published in 1936 and 1938. A pencilled note to the half-title of Volume I, possibly in Hamilton's hand, reads "NB p. 382 - 16 lines from foot" - the passage in question refers to Marlborough being kept in the shade while vexed "by the futile conduct of the campaign in Flanders". This may draw parallels with Churchill and Hamilton's Gallipoli Campaign, designed as an alternative military route than endless trench warfare on the western front. Provenance: the book comes from the two of the greatest Winston Churchill collections: that of Donald Scott Carmichael ("DSC" initials to box in gilt) and the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A97.2(I-II).a; Woods A40(a). 2 volumes, large octavo. Original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front covers, top edges gilt. With dust jackets. Housed together in red cloth chemises and solander box by James Macdonald. Paperclip blind impression to half-title of vol. II. Books bright and fresh, jackets worn with tape repair on verso, unclipped: near-fine copies in sound jackets.
Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom