Marlborough: His Life and Times, the publisher's signed, limited, finely bound issue of the first edition, one of only five unnumbered sets and the only one marked "Presentation" and not only signed b

by Winston S. Churchill

$27,500 · Offered by Biblio

First edition · Signed

London: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd., 1933. Signed and limited issue of the first edition. Full leather. One of 155 should be rare enough, but this set is one of one. This is the publisher's signed, limited, finely bound issue of the first edition. 155 sets were issued. 150 were numbered and signed. Just five were unnumbered. Of these five, just two were marked "Presentation" and only one was both signed by Churchill and inscribed and dated by the publisher. The author signed “Winston S. Churchill” just below the limitation statement and, on the half title, in four lines, the publisher wrote “To Steve | from | George | 1933.” Rendering this set even more compelling, condition is magnificent, 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 original 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 Harrap’s founder, George Godfrey Harrap, who died in 1938, the year the fourth and final volume of Marlborough was published. George Steward Harrap’s 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

• Publisher: George G. Harrap & Co., Ltd.
• Year: 1933
• Edition: First Edition
• Binding: hardcover

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