The War Speeches: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the Beginning; Onwards to Victory; The Dawn of Liberation; Victory [six volumes, all hardcovers, in dust jackets] by Churchill, Winston S - 1942

Taipei: Zhuo Liu Qing Di and Xinyue Books Co., Ltd,, 1964. First Taiwanese pirated edition of the definitive edition of Churchill's war speeches, a photographic reproduction of the authorized edition printed in Britain by Cassell in 1952. This set is from the collection of Churchill's bibliographer Ronald Cohen. The Taiwanese edition mimics the original jacket design, and photographically reproduce the contents, though removing all references to the original publisher. The physical size of the book is reduced. Provenance: Ronald Cohen, with his ownership inscription in pencil on the front free endpapers. 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. Three volumes, octavo. Original blue cloth, spines lettered in silver. With dust jackets. Publisher's imprint stamp to rear free endpaper. Jackets a little soiled and worn, no prices as issued: fine copies in very good jackets. Cohen A263.5.

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company; The Riverside Press, Cambridge,, 1953. First US collected edition, first printing, being the definitive edition of Churchill's war speeches, compiled by his literary secretary. During the war, Churchill's speeches were published in annual volumes. "Produced to cheap standards owing to wartime shortages and restrictions, the original volumes were all out of print by 1952. Cassell decided to reissue the war speeches in a new, expansive and comprehensive edition of three tall, elegant volumes printed in large type and generous margins on quality stock" (Langworth, p. 303). The American edition was issued from sheets of Cassell's first British edition, published the previous year. Only 500 sets of the American edition were made, and it is much scarcer than its British counterpart, more so with the slipcase. Langworth comments his dislike for the binding and jacket design, "but none of this matters because of the extreme rarity" (ibid). Provenance: the collection of Steve… Read More

Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1953. First American Edition (Cohen A263.2) (Woods A136b). Hardcover in Dust Jackets. Very Good. 8vo (500 pages, 578 pages and 596 pages). This is a very good example, in unclipped dust jackets, of the far rarer American issue of the “Definitive Edition.” Only 500 copies were produced, using sheets from the British print run. The dust jackets here are bright and intact, with short tears and edge chipping to the front faces, and fractional losses at the the spine heads, most significantly more than an inch to Volume III. The books appear unopened, but there is dusty fading to all three spines and modest browning to the pages. The contents are otherwise fine.

London: Cassell & Company Ltd,, 1942-46. The lion's roar First editions, first impressions, first states throughout, of the full set of the leader's wartime speeches, published in stages while the war was still ongoing. After the war a final volume, Secret Session Speeches, was published (1946). Provenance: the collection of Steve Forbes. Six volumes, octavo. Original blue cloth, spines lettered in gilt. With dust jackets. Frontispieces in first 5 volumes along with other photographs. Ownership signature to front pastedown of vol. I. Endpapers and edges foxed; jackets chipped and rubbed, vol. IV with tape reinforcement on verso, vols. I and III price clipped. A very good set in good jackets. Cohen A142.1.b (second state, no priority); 172.1.a (first state. no priority), 183.1.a, 194.1.a, A214.1a; 223.1.a (first state, no priority).

London: Cassell and Co., 1941-1946. First English Edition Set (Cohen A142-A227) (Woods A66- A114). Hardcover in Dust Jackets. Very Good. 8vo. This is a very good First English edition set, in correct, slightly age-darkened dust jackets that still retain excellent shelf-appearance. All volumes have foxing to the prelims and fore-edges, with the exception of Volume 7. INTO BATTLE is the rare First State of the First Printing, per Cohen, with the printed numerals missing on Page 78. The unclipped dust jacket has fractional loss at the spine head and some scattered edge-chipping. The book is in very good condition, with a lovely, small bookplate on the front free endpaper, with an inked name and gift presentation both dated 1941. THE UNRELENTING STRUGGLE is the First State of the First Printing, per Cohen, with the misprinted numerals on Page 281. The price-clipped dust jacket has fractional loss at the spine tail that has been filled out. The contents are otherwise fine, with an ink gift… Read More

London: Cassell and Co., 1941-1946. First English Edition Set (Cohen A142-A227) (Woods A66- A114). Hardcover in Dust Jackets. Very Good. 8vo. This is a very good First English edition set, in correct, unclipped dust jackets with very moderate wear and excellent shelf appearance. INTO BATTLE is the rare First State of the First Printing, per Cohen, with the printed numerals missing on Page 78. The dust jacket has fractional loss at the spine head and some scattered edge-chipping but is essentially fine. The book is virtually mint, save for a lovely bookplate from The Book Society on the front pastedown. THE UNRELENTING STRUGGLE is the First State of the First Printing, per Cohen, with the misprinted numerals on Page 281. The dust jacket has closed tears on the lower edges of the front face and very minor chipping to the spine tail. The contents are otherwise fine, with foxing to the prelims and fore-edges. ONWARDS TO VICTORY has a former-owner name inked discreetly on the front free endpaper,… Read More

London: Cassell and Company, Limited 1941 - 1946. 8vo. First Editions. 7 volumes. 1941 to 1946. Bound in a recent full scarlet morocco with raised bands, gilt lettering, borders and devices to spines; all edges gilt. All in fine condition. Into Battle is the first issue which misses the 3rd September 1939 speech (the first day of Britain's war). Photographic plates. Collection of Churchill's speeches made throughout the Second World War. . Near Fine. Full Morocco. First Editions. 1941.

London: Cassell & Company Ltd,, 1941-46. The lion's roar First editions, first impressions, first states throughout, of the full set of the leader's wartime speeches, published in stages while the war was still ongoing, together with his post-war Secret Session Speeches. Seven volumes, octavo. Original blue cloth, spines lettered in gilt. With dust jackets. Frontispieces in first 5 volumes along with other photographs. Contemporary ownership signature to front free endpaper of vol. II; a few volumes with newspaper clippings (and one 1945 election brochure with Churchill's endorsement of a candidate) loosely inserted. Edges a little spotted; unclipped, bright jackets with scattered rubbing and wear: near-fine copies in very good jackets. Cohen A142.1.a; 172.1.a, 183.1.a, 194.1.a, A214.1a; 223.1.a; 227.2.a.

London: Cassell & Company Ltd,, 1941-46. The lion's roar First UK editions, first impressions, handsomely bound; the complete series of the leader's wartime speeches, published in stages while the war was still ongoing, together with his post-war Secret Session Speeches. Seven volumes, octavo (211 x 135 mm). Attractively bound in recent burgundy morocco, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, raised bands, single rule to boards gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Frontispieces in first five volumes along with other photographs. The occasional minor blemish, an excellent set.

London: Cassell, 1941. London -: Cassell and Company, 1941-6. [Speeches] - All FIRST EDITIONS, all first printings. Seven volumes. Octavo (22 x 15 x 19cm). Includes several half-tone plates. In publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spines. All in original colour dust-jackets, volume 2 neatly clipped. Wear and chipping to volumes one and to volume three. Some internal spine repairs to the dust wrappers. Neat names to volumes 3, 4 and 5. All in all, a very good set. "Winston Churchill: The War Speeches" is a notable collection published by Cassell, chronicling the inspiring oratory of Sir Winston Churchill during World War II. Comprising his most iconic speeches, this compilation offers a remarkable insight into Churchill's leadership, eloquence, and unwavering determination in the face of Nazi aggression. These speeches, delivered between 1940 and 1945, rallied the British people and the Allied forces, becoming pivotal in maintaining morale and resolve. Cassell's… Read More