Display Signed Copies Only Display All Inventory on Abebooks

Available Copies from Independent Booksellers

Winston S. Churchill. The River War. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 1902.

Price: US$350.00 + shipping

Description: This is the first one-volume edition of Churchill's second book, The River War, originally published as a two-volume edition in 1899. In 1902 Churchill (by then a new member of Parliament) revised and abridged his text, adding a new Preface and excising much of the criticism of Kitchener for political reasons. For the next 120 years, every one of the many subsequent editions of The River War was based on this 1902 text. This first one-volume edition had only a single printing of 1,003 copies and is considerably scarcer than the first edition. This edition has the same distinctive gilt decoration of the Mahdi's Tomb and gunboat as the first edition, but is bound in red cloth (as opposed to the navy cloth of the first edition).While the original and unrestored binding of this copy is failing, it is noteworthy for relatively clean contents and for being an early issue. Two features distinguish this copy as likely an early binding of the edition. First is the presence of original black endpapers (instead of white). Second is presence of the publisher's catalogue. Cohen (Vol. I, A2.2, p.46) notes "Sales were gradual" and "by 1 June 1908. 407 copies remained on hand" of which 350 were as-yet unbound sheets. Moreover, among the copies we have examined the publisher's red cloth varies quite considerably in hue, from a deep red to distinctly lighter shades. In our experience, darker cloth has corresponded to black endpapers and a bound-in publisher's catalogue. This copy - featuring darker red cloth, black endpapers, and the publisher's catalogue - seems almost certainly among the earlier copies bound and sold by the publisher.Overall condition is only fair due to the fact that the original, illustrated, dark red cloth binding is shaken, still holding to the text block but with a split to the binding cloth spanning most of the front joint, a split starting at the upper rear joint, fraying at the spine ends, general scuffing to the spine, and light wear to the board extremities, including a little mottling at the lower front cover corner. The contents are modestly age-toned, but otherwise quite clean. Trivial spotting appears confined to the prelims and page edges, with the top edges also showing shelf dust. The only previous owner name is inked on the recto of the blank preceding the half title. There are gutter splits between the front free endpaper and following blank and at the rear pastedown, and the binding is shaken, but the mull remains intact and the text block remains anchored to the binding.In 1883, Mahdist forces of messianic leader Mohammed Ahmed forced British withdrawal from the Sudan. In 1885, General Gordon famously lost his life in a doomed defense of Khartoum, where he had been sent to lead evacuation of British-led Egyptian forces. Though the Mahdi died that same year, his theocracy continued until 1898, when General Kitchener reoccupied the Sudan. With Kitchener was a young Winston Churchill, who participated in decisive defeat of the Mahdist forces and the last "genuine" cavalry charge of the British army during the battle of Omdurman in September 1898. Writing about the British campaign in the Sudan, Churchill - a young officer in a colonial British army - is unusually sympathetic to the Mahdist forces and critical of Imperial cynicism and cruelty. This work offers us the candid perspective of the future 20th century icon from the distinctly 19th century battlefields where Churchill learned to write and earned his early fame. Reference: Cohen A2.2, Woods/ICS A2(b), Langworth p.30.

Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

Churchill, Winston Spencer. The River War: An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 1902.

Price: US$844.70 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: 2nd Edition: 1st one-volume edition of Churchill's second book. With frontispiece portrait of Kitchener of Khartoum and 22 maps and plans, of which 14 are color and 11 folding. [xiv], 381 pages. Shelf wear, split to hinge, spine slightly sunned, bumping and mark to front cover, age toning and some spotting but overall in very good original condition. The River War was originally published as a two-volume edition in 1899. In 1902 Churchill (by then a new member of Parliament) revised and abridged his text, excising much of the criticism of Kitchener for political reasons. There is also a new Preface. For the next 120 years, every one of the many subsequent editions of The River War was based on this 1902 text. This first one-volume edition had only a single printing of just 1,003 copies and so is considerably scarcer than the first edition. This edition has the same distinctive gilt decoration of the Mahdi's Tomb and gunboat as the first edition, but is bound in red cloth. Two interesting features distinguish this copy. First is the presence of original white endpapers, instead of the typical black. Second is lack of the publisher's catalogue; Cohen (Vol. I, A2.2, p.46) notes "Most copies will have a catalogue designated '10,000/7/02'." Cohen also notes that "Sales were gradual" and "by 1 June 1908. 407 copies remained on hand" of which 350 were as-yet unbound sheets. Moreover, among the copies we have examined the publisher's red cloth varies quite considerably in hue, from a deep red to distinctly lighter shades. In our experience, darker cloth has always corresponded to black endpapers and a bound-in publisher's catalogue. This copy - the publisher's original binding featuring medium red cloth, white endpapers, and no publisher's catalogue - seems almost certainly among the later copies bound and sold by the publisher. In 1883, Mahdist forces of messianic leader Mohammed Ahmed overwhelmed the Egyptian army of British commander William Hicks and Britain ordered withdrawal from the Sudan. In 1885, General Gordon famously lost his life in a doomed defense of Khartoum, where he had been sent to lead evacuation of Egyptian forces. Though the Mahdi died that same year, his theocracy continued until 1898, when General Kitchener reoccupied the Sudan. With Kitchener was a young Winston Churchill, who participated in decisive defeat of the Mahdist forces and the last "genuine" cavalry charge of the British army during the battle of Omdurman in September 1898. Writing about the British campaign in the Sudan, Churchill - a young officer in a colonial British army - is unusually sympathetic to the Mahdist forces and critical of Imperial cynicism and cruelty. This work offers us the candid perspective of the future 20th century icon from the distinctly 19th century battlefields where Churchill learned to write and earned his early fame. The text is arresting, insightful, powerfully descriptive, and of enduring relevance. Because it was significantly revised and because so many subsequent editions were based on this text, this 1902 first abridged and revised edition is as important and desirable as any in the Churchill canon. The text has been revised and a new chapter on the Destruction of Khalifa and the denouement of the war have been added. Cohen A2.2, Woods/ICS A2(b) First edition of the work in this format and binding, and/or set or series. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 2 kilogram. Category: History; Military & Warfare. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 3549. This book weighs over 1Kg and may involve extra shipping charges to some countries.

Seller: Polar Books, Llandudno, CONWY, United Kingdom

CHURCHILL, Winston S.. The River War. An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan.. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1902, 1902.

Price: US$1137.10 + shipping

Description: First abridged edition, first impression. For this edition (the second overall), Churchill shortened the text by a third but added a new preface and chapter on the destruction of the Khalifa and the end of the war. The book was first published in two volumes in 1899. "The River War is a brilliant history of British involvement in the Sudan and the campaign for its reconquest: arresting, insightful, with tremendous narrative and descriptive power" (Langworth, p. 27). In his abridgement Churchill also extensively revised the book to omit any criticisms of Kitchener and the British Army: "as a Conservative MP, he found it prudent to tone down his questioning of the imperialist adventure" (Rose, p. 61). Woods A2(b). Octavo. Original red cloth, gilt titles and pictorial decoration to both spine and front board, black endpapers. With frontispiece, maps and plans, six of them folding. Marginal browning, hinges starting and front free endpaper becoming loose, but overall a very good, cloth slightly rubbed at the extremities, spine sunned, chipping and splitting at head and tail.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom

CHURCHILL, WINSTON SPENCER. The River War. Longmans, Green & Co, London, 1902.

Price: US$1137.21 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: Octavo. Red cloth with gilt lettering and gilt mosque and gilt riverboat to spine and front panel. The is the second edition and the first one volume edition which has been abridged and revised. The maps have been kept but the photographs have been eliminated. Considerable sections of the text have been revised. Somewhat rare as the print run was only 1000 copies. Cloth on the spine has been restored and the endpapers renewed o/w a very good copy.

Seller: Karol Krysik Books ABAC/ILAB, IOBA, PBFA, Toronto, ON, Canada

Churchill, Winston S.. The River War. Longmans, Green and Company, London, 1902.

Price: US$1150.00 + shipping

Condition: Very Good

Description: 381pp/maps. An historical account of the reconquest of the Soudan. Second edition, revised, first one volume edition. The text had been revised considerably. Original red cloth, gilt titles and pictorial gilt riverboat decoration to both spine and front board. With frontispiece, maps and plans. (All 14 color maps present - most are fold-out maps). Spotting and shelf wear to cover and spine, . Only library markings are a Navy library sticker (U.S.S. Leviathan) inside front cover and an embossed Navy seal on the title page. Otherwise a tight, clean book.

Seller: DBookmahn's Used and Rare Military Books, Burke, VA, U.S.A.

Winston S. Churchill. The River War. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 1902.

Price: US$1200.00 + shipping

Description: This is the first one-volume edition of Churchill's second book. The River War was originally published as a two-volume edition in 1899. In 1902 Churchill (by then a new member of Parliament) revised and abridged his text, excising much of the criticism of Kitchener for political reasons. There is also a new Preface. For the next 120 years, every one of the many subsequent editions of The River War was based on this 1902 text. This first one-volume edition had only a single printing of just 1,003 copies and so is considerably scarcer than the first edition. This edition has the same distinctive gilt decoration of the Mahdi's Tomb and gunboat as the first edition, but is bound in red cloth. This copy is in good plus condition, entirely original and unrestored. The illustrated red cloth binding shows some wear to extremities, mild spine toning, and light overall scuffing and soiling, with a single black mark below the author’s name on the spine. The binding has a modest forward lean. Nonetheless, shelf presentation and binding color are respectable. The contents retain a crisp feel. All of the numerous maps and plans are present and complete, as are the original frontispiece and tissue guard. We find no previous ownership marks. Spotting is primarily confined to the first and final leaves and page edges. Two interesting features distinguish this copy. First is the presence of original white endpapers, instead of the typical black. Second is lack of the publisher's catalogue; Cohen (Vol. I, A2.2, p.46) notes "Most copies will have a catalogue designated '10,000/7/02'." Cohen also notes that "Sales were gradual" and "by 1 June 1908. 407 copies remained on hand" of which 350 were as-yet unbound sheets. Moreover, among the copies we have examined the publisher's red cloth varies quite considerably in hue, from a deep red to distinctly lighter shades. In our experience, darker cloth has always corresponded to black endpapers and a bound-in publisher's catalogue. This copy - the publisher's original binding featuring medium red cloth, white endpapers, and no publisher's catalogue - seems almost certainly among the later copies bound and sold by the publisher.In 1883, Mahdist forces of messianic leader Mohammed Ahmed overwhelmed the Egyptian army of British commander William Hicks and Britain ordered withdrawal from the Sudan. In 1885, General Gordon famously lost his life in a doomed defense of Khartoum, where he had been sent to lead evacuation of Egyptian forces. Though the Mahdi died that same year, his theocracy continued until 1898, when General Kitchener reoccupied the Sudan. With Kitchener was a young Winston Churchill, who participated in decisive defeat of the Mahdist forces and the last "genuine" cavalry charge of the British army during the battle of Omdurman in September 1898. Writing about the British campaign in the Sudan, Churchill - a young officer in a colonial British army - is unusually sympathetic to the Mahdist forces and critical of Imperial cynicism and cruelty. This work offers us the candid perspective of the future 20th century icon from the distinctly 19th century battlefields where Churchill learned to write and earned his early fame. The text is arresting, insightful, powerfully descriptive, and of enduring relevance. Because it was significantly revised and because so many subsequent editions were based on this text, this 1902 first abridged and revised edition is as important and desirable as any in the Churchill canon.Reference: Cohen A2.2, Woods/ICS A2(b), Langworth p.30.

Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

Winston S. Churchill. The River War. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 1902.

Price: US$1500.00 + shipping

Description: This is the first one-volume edition of Churchill's second book, The River War, originally published as a two-volume edition in 1899. In 1902 Churchill (by then a new member of Parliament) revised and abridged his text, adding a new Preface and excising much of the criticism of Kitchener for political reasons. For the next 120 years, every one of the many subsequent editions of The River War was based on this 1902 text. This first one-volume edition had only a single printing of 1,003 copies and is considerably scarcer than the first edition. This edition has the same distinctive gilt decoration of the Mahdi's Tomb and gunboat as the first edition, but is bound in red cloth. Condition is very good minus, sound, with interesting provenance, and entirely original. The illustrated red cloth binding is square and tight with some wear to extremities, including mild spine toning and minor fraying to the spine ends and upper rear hinge. Nonetheless, shelf presentation and binding color are respectable. The contents remain respectably clean. Modest spotting is primarily confined to the prelims and page edges. All maps and plans are present and complete, as are the original frontispiece and tissue guard, and the original black endpapers. Two names are inked on the front free endpaper recto – one dated "1902" and the second dated "14 Jan. 1946." The third ownership name – conveyed via an armorial bookplate affixed to the front free endpaper – is that of "Richard Lucas Mullens". Major-General Mullens (1871-1952) – ostensibly the second owner of this book – commanded 1 Cavalry Division in France during the First World War from October 1915 until after the armistice of November 1918. Like Churchill, Mullens attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Also like Churchill, he fought in the Boer War, fighting in multiple actions, including Diamond Hill - which was Winston Churchill’s last combat experience before his own service on the Front during the First World War. The Boer War conferred fame on Churchill and facilitated his election to Parliament. For Mullens, it was more conventional honor and glory; he was twice mentioned in Despatches. (The Times, Obituary published 28 May 1952)Two features distinguish this copy as likely an early binding of the edition. First is the presence of original black endpapers (instead of white). Second is presence of the publisher's catalogue. Cohen (Vol. I, A2.2, p.46) notes "Sales were gradual" and "by 1 June 1908. 407 copies remained on hand" of which 350 were as-yet unbound sheets. Moreover, among the copies we have examined the publisher's red cloth varies quite considerably in hue, from a deep red to distinctly lighter shades. In our experience, darker cloth has corresponded to black endpapers and a bound-in publisher's catalogue. This copy - featuring darker red cloth, black endpapers, and the publisher's catalogue - seems almost certainly among the earlier copies bound and sold by the publisher.In 1883, Mahdist forces of messianic leader Mohammed Ahmed forced British withdrawal from the Sudan. In 1885, General Gordon famously lost his life in a doomed defense of Khartoum, where he had been sent to lead evacuation of British-led Egyptian forces. Though the Mahdi died that same year, his theocracy continued until 1898, when General Kitchener reoccupied the Sudan. With Kitchener was a young Winston Churchill, who participated in decisive defeat of the Mahdist forces and the last "genuine" cavalry charge of the British army during the battle of Omdurman in September 1898. Writing about the British campaign in the Sudan, Churchill - a young officer in a colonial British army - is unusually sympathetic to the Mahdist forces and critical of Imperial cynicism and cruelty. This work offers us the candid perspective of the future 20th century icon from the distinctly 19th century battlefields where Churchill learned to write and earned his early fame. Reference: Cohen A2.2, Woods/ICS A2(b), Langworth p.30

Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.

Churchill, Sir Winston Spencer. The River War. An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan. Edited by Col. F. Rhodes. Longmans, Green, and Co, London, 1902.

Price: US$1500.00 + shipping

Description: Second, new and revised edition, and the first one volume edition. Only 1000 copies printed. With frontispiece portrait of Kitchener of Khartoum and 22 maps and plans, of which 14 are color and 11 folding. [xiv], 381 pp. Thick 8vo. The second edition of Churchill's second book, which originally appeared in two volumes in 1899. The text has been revised and a new chapter on the Destruction of Khalifa and the denouement of the war have been added. Cohen A2.2 Original red cloth, stamped in gilt. Rubbing to cloth, but an attractive copy nevertheless With frontispiece portrait of Kitchener of Khartoum and 22 maps and plans, of which 14 are color and 11 folding. [xiv], 381 pp. Thick 8vo Second, new and revised edition, and the first one volume edition. Only 1000 copies printed.

Seller: James Cummins Bookseller, ABAA, New York, NY, U.S.A.

CHURCHILL, Winston S.. The River War. An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan. Edited by Col. F. Rhodes, DSO. New and revised edition.. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1902, 1902.

Price: US$1624.43 + shipping

Description: First abridged edition, first impression. For this edition (the second overall), Churchill shortened the text by a third but added a new preface and chapter on the destruction of the Khalifa and the end of the war. The book was first published in two volumes in 1899. "The River War is a brilliant history of British involvement in the Sudan and the campaign for its reconquest: arresting, insightful, with tremendous narrative and descriptive power" (Langworth, p. 27). In his abridgement Churchill also extensively revised the book to omit any criticisms of Kitchener and the British Army: "as a Conservative MP, he found it prudent to tone down his questioning of the imperialist adventure" (Rose, p. 61). Provenance: the collection of Steve Forbes. Cohen A2.2; Woods A2(b). Richard M. Langworth, A Connoisseur's Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill, 1998; Jonathan Rose, The Literary Churchill, 2015. Octavo. Original red cloth, spine and front cover lettered and decorated in gilt, black endpapers. Photogravure portrait frontispiece of Kitchener, 14 coloured maps and plans (6 folding), 8 sketch maps in text. Light rubbing at extremities, endpapers a little toned, rear hinge with superficial split: a very good, square copy.

Seller: Peter Harrington. ABA/ ILAB., London, United Kingdom

CHURCHILL Winston. The River War. An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan. , 1902.

Price: US$1624.43 + shipping

Description: Second edition, revised, first one-volume edition. Edited by Col F. Rhodes, D.S.O. With Frontispiece, with tissue guard, maps, and plans, of which six are folding. 8vo. Original red cloth, spine and front cover lettered and stamped in gilt, black coated endpapers, fore and bottom edges untrimmed. London, Longmans, Green, and Co. Churchill's second book, originally published in two volumes in 1899, preceded only by The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898). The present edition was extensively revised to fit one-volume and included an additional new chapter on the destruction of the Khalifa at the end of the war. An account of Churchill's experiences as a British Army officer during the Mahdist War (1881-99) in the Sudan, in which the ?story of the campaign was firmly embedded in a remarkably sympathetic history of the Sudanese revolt against Egyptian rule. Churchill wrote: 'Those whose practice it is to regard their own nation as possessing a monopoly of virtue and common sense are wont to ascribe every military enterprise of savage people to fanaticism. They calmly ignore obvious and legitimate motives upon the whole there exists no better case for rebellion than presented itself to the Soudanese'. Churchill was also critical of aspects of British imperialism. He censured Kitchener for his part in the desecration of the Mahdi's tomb and the slaughter of wounded dervish soldiers. For all that, he never doubted the 'civilizing mission' of the British in Asia and Africa? (ODNB). It includes, of course, his account of the charge of the 21st Lancers, to whom he was attached, at Omdurman on 2 September 1898, described by the old Dictionary of National Biography as ?that last cavalry charge of the dying century? Internally clean and unmarked, only the slightest rubbing to extremities, a notably bright, near fine copy.

Seller: Maggs Bros. Ltd ABA, ILAB, PBFA, BA, London, United Kingdom

Winston S. Churchill. The River War. Longmans, Green, and Co., London, 1902.

Price: US$1650.00 + shipping

Description: This is the first one-volume edition of Churchill's second book, The River War, originally published as a two-volume edition in 1899. In 1902 Churchill (by then a new member of Parliament) revised and abridged his text, adding a new Preface and excising much of the criticism of Kitchener for political reasons. For the next 120 years, every one of the many subsequent editions of The River War was based on this 1902 text. This first one-volume edition had only a single printing of 1,003 copies and is considerably scarcer than the first edition. This edition has the same distinctive gilt decoration of the Mahdi's Tomb and gunboat as the first edition, but is bound in red cloth. Condition is very good. The red cloth binding is quite presentable and sound – square, clean, and tight with sharp corners. The spine shows mild toning, the binding overall with minor scuffs and blemishes, a bit of mottling to the front cover fore and bottom edges. The contents retain a crisp feel, modestly age-toned, with light spotting, primarily confined to the prelims and page edges. All maps and plans are present and complete, as are the original frontispiece and tissue guard, and the original black endpapers. This is a bibliographically interesting copy. The 1,003 sets of sheets were bound and sold over time. Churchill’s bibliographer, Ronald Cohen, Vol. I, A2.2, p.46) notes "Sales were gradual" and "by 1 June 1908. 407 copies remained on hand" of which 350 were as-yet unbound sheets. In our experience, three features distinguish earlier-bound copies. First is darker red cloth rather than lighter. Second is black endpapers (like those of the first edition) instead of white. Third is presence of the publisher's catalogue. In our experience, darker cloth has corresponded to black endpapers and a bound-in publisher's catalogue. This copy - featuring darker red cloth, black endpapers, but lacking the publisher’s catalogue, presents a curious mix of binding attributes.In 1883, Mahdist forces of messianic leader Mohammed Ahmed forced British withdrawal from the Sudan. In 1885, General Gordon famously lost his life in a doomed defense of Khartoum, where he had been sent to lead evacuation of British-led Egyptian forces. Though the Mahdi died that same year, his theocracy continued until 1898, when General Kitchener reoccupied the Sudan. With Kitchener was a young Winston Churchill, who participated in decisive defeat of the Mahdist forces and the last "genuine" cavalry charge of the British army during the battle of Omdurman in September 1898. Writing about the British campaign in the Sudan, Churchill - a young officer in a colonial British army - is unusually sympathetic to the Mahdist forces and critical of Imperial cynicism and cruelty. This work offers us the candid perspective of the future 20th century icon from the distinctly 19th century battlefields where Churchill learned to write and earned his early fame. Reference: Cohen A2.2, Woods/ICS A2(b), Langworth p.30.

Seller: Churchill Book Collector ABAA/ILAB/IOBA, San Diego, CA, U.S.A.