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THE WORLD CRISIS
-Twice-Signed First English Edition Set in Fine Leather Binding-
1923-31
First English Edition Set
Thornton Butterworth Ltd. [London]
Biblio: (Cohen A69.2 [I-VI].a) (Woods A31ab)
8vo (5 volumes in 6 books. 2,500+ pages, illustrated with folding maps and plans.)
Leatherbound [Dark blue leather]
Item Number: 208999
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 is a stunning leatherbound First English edition set, twice-signed in ink: “Inscribed by Winston S. Churchill for Arthur Meighen Nov. 1929” on the front free endpapers, respectively, of Volumes III and IV.
ARTHUR MEIGHEN (1874-1960) served as Canadian Prime Minister in 1921 and again in 1926. He was leader of the Canadian Conservative Party from 1941-1942.
The books have been stunningly rebound in navy blue Oasis goatskin with marbled paper-covered boards and endpapers. The spines are 24-carat gold gilt tooled in six compartments with raised bands, ornamented with the Churchill rampant lion crest on each spine. The upper edges are all gilded.
The books are all first state first printings. Both signature pages have faded and bear a single faint crease just visible running north to south. The contents are fine.
A splendid signed leatherbound set.