“MY ONLY AMBITION WAS TO BE MASTER OF THE SPOKEN WORD”: HANDSOME BOXED SET OF 12 LP RECORDINGS OF CHURCHILL’S SPEECHES AND MEMOIRS, WITH 1965 ONE-CROWN CHURCHILL COMMEMORATIVE COIN AFFIXED TO SPINE

CHURCHILL, Winston S. Winston S. Churchill: His Memoirs and Speeches from Armistice to Victory, 1918 to 1945. London: The London Record Company, 1964. Twelve 33-1/3 rpm albums in individual sleeves, with illustrated text booklet. Housed in original deluxe green slipcase measuring 13 by 13 by 3 inches, with bronze-tone metal relief on front cover and one-crown commemorative coin affixed to spine. $1450.

Deluxe set of recordings of Churchill’s speeches and memoirs, delivered by Churchill. This copy with a 1965 one-crown coin commemorating Churchill’s death affixed to the spine.

In his youth, Winston Churchill said that "it was [his] only ambition to be master of the spoken word" (Manchester, 31). By general agreement, he achieved his ambition. This collection opens with Churchill reading aloud from The Second World War, beginning with the section on the Armistice. Includes speeches from June 18, 1940 ("Their Finest Hour"), September 17, 1940 ("Give us the tools and we will finish the job"), and November 7, 1941 ("I have never given any assurance of a speedy or easy or cheap victory") and, finally, his comments on Germany's unconditional surrender. With original 58-page book of photographs and commentary by Arthur Bryant. Number 992 of a numbered edition of unknown limitation. The one-crown coin commemorating Churchill’s death shows busts of Elizabeth II on the obverse, designed by Mary Gillick, and Churchill on the reverse, designed by Oscar Neman. “Nemon’s low relief in a rough sculptural technique did not lend itself to hasty mass production. It is the only occasion that a bust on a British coin is an integral part of the coin as apposed to an effigy ‘struck’ on the flan… His portrait on the coin was derived from the Churchill profile bust that Nemon had completed in marble for Her Majesty, The Queen. The siren suited likeness is now at Windsor Castle… [It was] the first time the head of a commoner has appeared on a coin of the realm in addition to that of the sovereign” (Norwich Coin and Medal Society).

Records and book fine; light wear to inner right front hinge of box, rubbing to box rear panel. A handsome copy, quite attractive with Churchill commemorative coin.