Marlborough.: His Life and Times.

London: George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd,, 1933-38. Took its place at once among the classics of historical writing 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). Four 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. Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth, pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a).