COMPLETE 12-VOLUME COLLECTION OF FIRST EDITIONS OF CHURCHILL'S WWII AND POST-WAR SPEECHES, 1941-61

CHURCHILL, Winston S. Collection of World War II and post-war speeches. World War II Speeches: Into Battle; The Unrelenting Struggle; The End of the Beginning; Onwards to Victory; The Dawn of Liberation; Victory; Secret Session Speeches. Post-War Speeches: The Sinews of Peace; Europe Unite; In the Balance; Stemming the Tide; The Unwritten Alliance. London: Cassell, (1941-61). Together, 12 volumes. Octavo, original cloth, original dust jackets. $8500.

First editions of Churchill's separately published World War II and post-war speeches, including his rare last book, in original dust jackets.

Churchill's war speeches, published between 1941 and 1946, "constitute a contemporary history of the war which is as lively as it is authoritative; and, so far as contemporary history is of value, they may be said to be the last word upon the war" (Randolph S. Churchill). The bulk of Churchill's speeches between late 1945, when he was voted out of the office of Prime Minister and became the leader of the opposition party in Parliament, through his second premiership of 1951-1955, up to 1959, when he gave his last public speech, make up the post-war speeches. Toward the end of the Second World War and after, Churchill increasingly advocated that Europe enter the approaching Cold War era as a united and resolute voice. The speeches included in these volumes trace the development of Churchill's call for European unity through the abatement of socialist party power in Britain's parliament, the start of the Korean War, rising tensions in the Middle East, and the establishment of NATO. This set contains the rare first and only printing of The Unwritten Alliance, the last of Churchill's books printed in his lifetime. Cohen A142.1.a; A172.1.a; A183.1.a; A194.1.a; A214.1.a; A223.1.a; A227.2.a, A241, A246, A255, A264, A273. Langworth, 202-247, 283-86, 294-97, 300-302, 308-11, 337-39. Woods A66(a)-A114, A124, A128, A130, A137, A142. Armorial bookplate. Early gift inscription. Loosely laid into Victory is a toast list for a Parliamentary Press Gallery Luncheon at which Churchill was the principal guest.

Books generally fine, dust jackets with minor wear, generally to spine ends, rubbing to last volume of Post-War Speeches. Dust jackets on two volumes price-clipped, on five volumes with tape repairs to verso. An attractive set.