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THE WAR SPEECHES
-First English Edition Set (Mixed Later Printings)-
1941-1946
First English Edition Set (Various Later Printings)
Cassell and Co. [London]
Biblio: (Cohen A142-A227) (Woods A66- A114)
8vo
Hardcover (with Dust Jackets) [Blue cloth]
Item Number: 208732
Collector's Guide
The War Speeches of Winston Churchill were first preserved in seven individual speech compilation volumes, collected and published yearly in the U.K. and in the U.S., beginning in 1941, under the following titles: Into Battle (1938-1940 speeches; published in the U.S. as Blood, Sweat and Tears), The Unrelenting Struggle (1940-1941), The End of the Beginning (1942), Onwards to Victory (1943), The Dawn of Liberation (1944), Victory (1945), and Secret Session Speeches (Various Dates). Unlike the English editions, which were all published by one publisher (Cassell), the American series was initiated by G.P. Putnam with Blood, Sweat and Tears, then carried on by Little, Brown, up till the final volume, Secret Session Speeches, which was published by Simon and Schuster.
Description
This is a very good set of Mixed Later Printings of the First English editions in their correct original dust jackets.
INTO BATTLE is a Second Printing in a price-clipped dust jacket that is edge chipped at the head and tail of the spine, with a closed tear along the upper spine fold, else fine. The contents are fine with significant fading to the spine and a rub to the front free endpaper.
THE UNRELENTING STRUGGLE is a virtually mint Third Printing in a dust jacket that is unclipped, with a short closed tear on the rear face, else fine.
THE END OF THE BEGINNING, and DAWN OF LIBERATION are all virtually mint Second Printings in unclipped dust jackets.
VICTORY is a First Printing in an unclipped dust jacket that is lightly edge-chipped, else fine. The contents are fine as well.
SECRET SESSIONS SPEECHES is a First Printing in a clipped dust jacket that has darkened with age along the spine with losses at the head and tail. The contents are fine, with a vintage bookplate on the front pastedown and a short, closed tear to the front endpaper.
A lovely set overall, with excellent shelf appearance.