CHURCHILL, Winston S.

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Publishing contract for My African Journey, signed by Churchill. Churchill sells to Hodder & Stoughton the rights to sell My African Journey in the US, initialling the first two pages and signing in full on the third page. This is the earliest publishing contract for Churchill we know to have appeared in the market.The contract, dated 9 January 1909, sets out that Churchill grants Hodder & Stoughton exclusive American rights and that he shall receive 15 per cent royalties on the first 5,000 copies and 20 per cent thereafter. Hodder & Stoughton will publish it no later than 30 April 1909. The contract also confirms there are no copyright or libel problems, that Churchill retains the translation and copyright rights, and that after five years either party may terminate the contract with notice.My African Journey was originally serialized in Strand Magazine from March to November 1908. Hodder & Stoughton published the book in the UK in December 1908, and in the US on 27 February 1929. The US issue comprised 1,400 copies printed in the UK. That Hodder & Stoughton would receive the US rights was not predetermined - Churchill's agent A. P. Watt attempted to sell the rights to Scribner's, who were to become Churchill's usual US publisher. Watt also sought to get an advance for Churchill on the sale of the US rights, but failed, and on 8 January (the day before this contract), advised Churchill to accept the agreement (Cohen, p. 160).Also included are two other typed letters signed:i

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