CHURCHILL INFORMS HIS UK PUBLISHER, CASSELL ABOUT THE GREATEST COUP OF POST WORLD WAR II PUBLISHING — AND OFFERS THE PUBLICATION DATES AND DETAILS OF  CHURCHILL’S:   

THE SECOND WORLD WAR

CHURCHILL, SIR WINSTON S.  (1874-1965).  British politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1940-1945, 1951-1955).  Important Typed Letter Signed, “Yours sincerely, Winston S. Churchill”, with a lengthy five-line paragraph written entirely in his hand above his bold closing signature, on his imprinted 28, Hyde Park Gate, London, S.W.7 stationery.   Two full pages, quarto.  London, January 23, 1948.  File hole in upper blank left margin, else very fine condition.  To “Desmond Flower, Esq., M.C., Messrs. Cassell & Co., Ltd.”  Churchill writes the salutation entirely in his hand:  “Dear Desmond”.

 

“I am sorry I have not replied before now to the queries raised in your letter of December 5.  I will deal with them seriatim.  The copy of the book will be distributed to Houghton Mifflin and everyone else concerned by Lord Camrose when the time comes.  This will apply also to any corrections in the galleys which may be necessary after delivery of the final version from me, through Lord Camrose.  The question of the Maps to be included in the various volumes is still being considered.  General Pownall, who is helping me with the book, has already prepared one or two maps for inclusion, and I am passing your suggestions on to him.  I am quite agreeable that morocco leather should be used for the volumes you are having bound for me in due course.  I am happy to leave the actual binding of the book to your good taste.  I think the design you enclose is quite attractive and suitable.  I should be interested to see a specimen of the actual binding you finally decide upon.  Thank you so much for all the trouble and thought you are giving this publication.  I think the specimen type you also enclose is very good. 

    [The following is entirely written in Churchill’s holograph:]

I am delivering the first book and I hope the second at the end of this week.  Camrose is going to have 150 copies printed and circulated.  This will not take long.  Yours sincerely,  Winston S. Churchill”.               

 

Simply superb!  The American edition preceded the Cassell English Edition by six months because Churchill insisted on numerous last minute changes to the latter, which he considered definitive. As early as 1939 – before he was even Prime Minister – Churchill had already been courted by publishers for the enticingly lucrative rights to publish any post-war memoirs. Cassell ultimately won the prize in the UK.   Camrose, a long time old friend, provided financial assistance to Sir Winston Churchill after the Second World War. He and ten other wealthy well-wishers each donated £5,000 to the Churchills’, allowing them to keep their home, Chartwell, on the condition that it would be presented to the nation upon their deaths.  The publication of The History of the Second World War, went a long way to providing ample support for the Churchill’s in the years following the war. 

 

$18,500.00