THE GREAT WAR
-First English Illustrated Edition (Second Issue)-
1933-1934
First English Illustrated Edition (Second Issue)
George Newnes, Ltd. [London]
Biblio: (Cohen A69.9.c) (Woods A31db)
8vo (1,668 pages, profusely illustrated)
Hardcover [Royal Blue cloth]
Item Number: 10976
$450.00
Collector's Guide
The World Crisis is Churchill’s highly subjective history of the First World War. Comprising five volumes (in six books) written over eight years, the initial titles were first published in the U.S. (by a matter of days), making the American edition the true first edition. Volume I (1911-1914) and Volume II (1915) were published in 1923. Volume III (1916-1918 ) was published in two parts in 1927 (hence the five/in six volumes ultimate format). Volume IV (The Aftermath 1918-1928) was published in 1929; and Volume V (The Unknown War/The Eastern Front) in 1931. A one-volume abridgment by the author was soon issued. Most subsequent re-issues have been incomplete, abridged, or otherwise condensed versions of the original text.
Description
This set constituted the first illustrated edition of THE WORLD CRISIS; the text judiciously abridged but extensively illustrated with spectacular black and white photographs. Originally serialized, beginning on 20 September 1933, and available fortnightly at newsstands throughout Great Britain, in 26 individual magazine-like parts, the parts were later bound as sets in a variety of bindings by the publisher, including this smashing three volume set in royal blue cloth, lettered in gilt, with a very distinctive “exploding planet” design motif for the spines and front covers.
This is a very good set, just a touch shelfworn, with some scattered foxing, else fine. These books did not generally age well which makes the condition here rather special.