Marlborough: His Life and Times
Harrap, London, 1933-1938, Signed limited edition. Printed on the first edition plates, with a special verso to the half title of volume I . Bound in full orange morocco by Leighton Straker, 5 raised spine bands, spine blocked gilt with short title, author, vol and year. Front board blocked with same family arms as trade edition. Top edges gilt, other edges untrimmed, with decorative endpapers. One point not mentioned by Woods is that the limited edition is printed on thicker paper, with the sheets of each volume bulking about 1/8 inch thicker. There were 155 sets produced of this special edition produced, and they very seldom come on the market. This is the only limited edition in English of a work by Churchill and the only signed edition. It's rarity and desirability cannot be overstated. Normal trade editions with Churchill's signature appear regularly at auction. This is set no. 25. Books are clean, tight, unworn, spines a little sunned as usual. There is some mild foxing on the pages adjacent to the endpapers, but contents generally very clean. If you look at the untrimmed foredges from just the right angle, small brown spots can be seen, but they are neither obvious nor offensive. Each volume bears the armorial bookplate of John Clive Gascoigne on the front pastedown. Lot no. 99 at Christies South Ken 12 Nov 1999, sold to me. (ICS A40a). Item #36600
Price: $16,000.00