First Edition, Presentation Copy, Inscribed by Winston Churchill

Two part biography of Lord Randolph Churchill, Winston Churchill’s father

Author: Winston Churchill
Macmillan and Co. Limited, London 1906
Publisher’s original maroon/red cloth, gilt-stamped on the front cover and spine.
Preserved in full maroon / burgundy morocco book-like boxes with gilt titles.

Includes inscription and signature of  Winston Churchill in both volumes:
Volume 1 is inscribed “To David Thomson, and best wishes from Winston S. Churchill. 17 Nov, 1906.”
Volume 2 is signed “Winston S. Churchill, 17 Nov, 1906.”

Included is a 2pp. letter on Colonial Office stationery from Churchill to Eva Purdy Thomson, dated  Nov. 17th, 1906, the same date as the inscriptions. The letter in a secretarial hand is signed by Churchill. Churchill mentions his mother, his new house, and having signed and sent the above books as per Eva’s wishes. The original envelope addressed to: Mrs. Thomson, 8 Park Street, Grosvenor Square, is included. Eva Purdy Thomson, Churchill’s American cousin, was married to David Thomson, a New York attorney; he died on December 31st, 1906, within a few weeks of Churchill inscribing the set.

A small contemporary bookseller’s label is in the lower corner of the rear pastedown of each volume, reading: “The Times [Book Club] 376-384 Oxford Street, London.” With Eva Purdy Thomson’s “Nepahwin” blindstamp at occasional points in both volumes. Nepahwin was the informal name of Eva’s estate near New Windson-on-the-Hudson. In 1917, the year she died, the property was converted to a retreat for religious workers.

Some spotting to the spines, Vol 1 has very faint blemish at center of front board, otherwise the books are in Very Good condition.

Woods A8(a)
Cohen A17

Item #310