BEATING THE INVADER
A Message from the Prime Minister
1941
First Issue
Ministry of Information, in cooperation with War Office and Ministry of Home Security [London]
Biblio: (Cohen B76.1) (Woods A69)
10 7/8 x 8 1/4 inches (Two-sided paper leaflet)
Item Number: 211666
$600.00
Description
What to do if fighting breaks out in my neighborhood.
This two-sided leaflet was distributed to the citizenry of the British Isles in anticipation of a Nazi invasion.
Churchill bibliographer Frederick Woods apparently believed the entirety to be of Churchill’s authorship and so listed it as an A item. Recent bibliographer Ronald Cohen has re-categorized it as a B item, stating that National Archives documents show clearly that the text was prepared by the Ministry of Information and then forwarded to the Prime Minister, who supplied an introduction.
Over 14 million were ultimately printed but few copies survive today. There were three distinct issues; this is an example of the First, virtually mint, save for faint darkening to the lower edge and some light wrinkles.
Not usually seen in such pristine condition.