May 8, 2015

Finest Hour 111, Summer 2001

Page 44

By Richard M. Langworth

We complete herewith our discussion of The Second World War, turning to the numerous editions and variants published in all languages since the mid-Fifties. Entries are confined to physical descriptions only; much more information, including quantities and current values, will be found in A Connoisseur’s Guide to the Books of Sir Winston Churchill, which is now available from the CC New Book Service at $30.

Chartwell (First Illustrated) Edition: ICS A123e. Educational Book Co., Ltd., London 1955, 6 vols.

In a special note to this edition dated 1 October 1954, Churchill writes: “Now a special edition is being published illustrated for the first time, in which all those first minor errors have been corrected.” This beautiful edition carries an entirely new text in fine, readable, large type, along with hundreds of illustrations on coated paper—interspersed not in thick 16page sections but spread around in two- or four-page inserts. Each volume contains a colour frontispiece and three-colour maps, silk head and tail bands and duplex endpapers, although the folding maps of the First English Edition are eliminated. There were no dust jackets, though each volume was wrapped in a plain glassine cover.

The books were offered by mail order in early 1955 in thick, stout boards bound in two versions by “Britain’s finest craftsmen” which were rightly described as “beautiful examples of the Bookbinders’ art.” The standard, and most-often-seen binding is red canvas, with titles on brown leather spine panels; on top boards the volume title gilt with a specially commissioned embossed medallion of Churchill on a leather label. It sold for £12 19s. 6d. ($36). The much rarer deluxe binding is blue “Oasis” morocco leather with art vellum cloth, bevelled boards, spine blocked gilt. It sold for £19 19s. ($56).

2024 International Churchill Conference

Join us for the 41st International Churchill Conference. London | October 2024

More

The Educational Book Company helped support students, who sold subscriptions to Chartwell Editions door to door. The young salesmen usually carried a “sample” bound in black leatherette, blocked SPECIMEN in gilt on the top board. The boards fold back to reveal the two bindings, the colour frontispiece and title page of Volume I, excerpted textual pages including 12 maps from Volume II, and 24 pages of photos plus colour plates.

This beautiful edition is the most elaborate and luxurious rendering of Churchill’s war memoirs, and would be the second set I would add after a First English Edition— which it complements nicely, being not only profusely illustrated but containing all of Churchill’s revisions since the original volumes. The standard binding has lately become scarce in truly fine condition; the deluxe binding (of which I encounter about one to every 20 standards) commands exceptional prices. Gutterbreaks are common on these large, thick volumes, and the leather spine labels of standard bindings are often chipped; such sets sell for modest prices, but are worth it; this is a truly desirable edition.

Time-Life Illustrated Edition: ICS A123f. New York 1959, 2 vols.

Taking its text from the First Abridged Edition, this elaborate quarto set is illustrated by photographs and paintings from the files of Life magazine, many published for the first time, and unique maps specially drawn for this edition. Bound in half blue (vol. I) or half green (vol. II) and black leatherette, blocked gilt on spine and top boards, it was published in two formats: in dust jackets (blue and green respectively), at $25; or slipcased with an LP record containing excerpts from Churchill’s wartime speeches, at $39.95. (The record came in a glassine envelope; the volumes were not jacketed in this format.) The Time-Life Edition is unique and attractive, but dealers tend to think it’s worth more than it is. It had a huge sale, and copies are not difficult to come by. My own copy is inscribed over his photo by one of the embattled American soldiers pictured in these dramatic pages, who came to visit me one day and took home two sets of these with my compliments. He’d earned them.

The Gathering Storm First Penguin Edition: ICS A123g. Penguin Paperbacks, London I960

This single title from the series was the only volume published of an intended six-volume series which was forestalled by copyright negotiations. Reprinted 1962.

Golden Press Edition: ICS A123h. Golden Press, New York I960

A one-volume adaptation of the Time-Life edition, abridged for young readers by Fred Cook. “Certain passages have been paraphrased by him for the purpose of condensation” (but Time-Life carefully sets the paraphrasing off in small type and daggers). Quarto, 384 pages, profusely illustrated, this work is easily recognised by pictorial boards, the top board illustrating the national flags of Britain, USSR, USA, Germany, France, China and the Japanese naval ensign. This design is repeated in the dust jacket. Endpapers are multi-coloured maps of the European and Asia-Pacific theatres. Not often seen but never expensive, this is still the ideal introduction to Churchill’s war memoirs for young people under the age of 12.

School Edition: ICS A123i. Cassell & Co. Ltd., London: 1960

Black, red and white boards with abstract art of ships, planes, the globe and the London Blitz. No dust jacket. An abridged juvenile compiled by Dr. Andrew Scotland, without illustrations. A set of student questions and assignments, entitled “For Second Thoughts,” appears on pages 327-33. Quite rare, this edition apparently had only one impression, published 21 January 1960.

Blenheim Edition: ICS A123J. Cassell & Co. Ltd., London: I960

Red boards blocked gilt on spine, 334 pages. A rework of the School Edition adding eight pages of coated stock with photos. In place of “For Second Thoughts” is an index, pages 327-34. Published at 12s 6d ($1.75). Dust jacket printed black, yellow and red with Karsh 1941 photo of Churchill.

Bantam Edition: ICS A123k. Bantam Books Inc., New York 1962

The first American paperback edition, sold initially as a boxed set, has had numerous impressions to date. Originally published at $2.50 each. Boxed sets were offered for $25.

Second Illustrated (paperback) Edition: ICS A1231. Cassell & Co., London: 1964, 12vols.

The second complete illustrated edition, this paperback broke the original 12 “books” of the work (two per volume) into 12 individual volumes. The volume titles are those of Churchill’s “books,” e.g. Volume 5 is “Germany Drives East.” The text was reset for this edition, and each volume contains an eight-page signature of photographs on coated paper. Wrappers are printed red-orange and black on white, each illustrated with a photograph. Easily found in Britain, this set is chiefly valued for its photographs; the page stock was pulpy and is almost always yellow and brittle. There were several impressions.

Heron (Third Illustrated) Edition: ICS A123m. Heron Books Ltd., London: 1974, 12 vols.

This novel edition issued to mark the Churchill Centenary was described by the publisher as “quarter brown morocco and olive Kivar” (imitation kidskin) with a gilt Churchill medallion on the cover; much rarer is the variant binding in full blue leatherette, blocked silver. Profusely illustrated (vol. I contains eight groups of fourpage photo sections), head and foot bands, yellow cloth page markers, decorative endpapers. The text was reset for this edition; maps and charts were redrawn and printed in halftone rather than two- or three-colour. The setting is shared with the Diner’s Club “Major Works” edition of The Second World War. (see the Connoisseur’s Guide). Sold via mail order at £2.75 ($7.70) each plus post.

The textual history is interesting. As with previous 12-volume works, Heron broke the original six volumes into Churchill’s 12 “books.” Volumes I-IV were offprinted from the considerably revised Second Editions of Gathering Storm and Finest Hour (1949, 1950). Volumes V-VII appear to be offprinted from First English Editions, but Volume VIII (“Book Two” of The Hinge of Fate) comes from a 1968 impression. Volumes IX-X are from the 1966 Fourth Edition of Closing the Ring, while Volumes XI-XII are from the 1954 Second Edition of Triumph and Tragedy. Evidently all these were the current trade editions in 1974. Heron Editions have been selling for modest prices. As the Chartwell Editions get scarcer, more people turn to this alternative for gift giving and presentations, so the value is rising.

Their Finest Hour Franklin Library Edition: ICS A123n. Franklin Mint Corp., Franklin Center, Pa.: 1978

A completely reset edition (but with maps offprinted from the American trade edition), this handsome volume is printed in dark blue and black and contains reportorial sketches by Capt. Bryan de Grineau MC. 8vo, bound in full navy morocco, decoratively blocked gilt on boards and spine, with two raised spine bands, all edges gilt, grey silk pagemarker, grey moire endpapers; issued with a 24-page illustrated booklet entitled NOTES FROM THE EDITOR, in the Limited Edition Collection, “The Greatest Books of the Twentieth Century.” The Franklin Mint produced a magnificent volume here, and it is only a shame the other five were not included. The most distinctive feature is de Grineau’s 16-page collection of sketches of the Battles of France and Britain, which convincingly invoke the feeling of those terrible, glorious times. Copies are scarce.

American Chartwell Issue: ICS A123o. Houghton Mifflin, Boston: 1983, 6 vols.

Nicely bound in half navy leather and tan linen cloth, with a Churchill painting of Chartwell tipped onto the front boards, this work was undertaken as a premium for the Book-of-the-Month Club, which offered the set for only $35 to newly joining BOMC members. To justify the book club edition, Houghton Mifflin produced 200 sets of a “trade edition” priced at a staggering $295. Thus there are two distinct bindings. The more common BOMC binding has rust stained top page edges and prominent debossed “dot” on the lower right corner of rear boards. The limited binding has yellow stained top page edges and no debossed “dot.” Endpapers of both variants contain excellent three-colour maps relevant to each volume. Some BOMC members who ordered this work received the trade binding, probably to cover a shortage in BOMC stock. Houghton Mifflin had trade bindings to spare, their sales people told this writer, because at $295 they didn’t sell many. The trade binding is far scarcer than the BOMC version, and has thus far commanded a healthy premium on the secondhand market.

Penguin Edition: ICS A123p. Penguin Books, London: 1985, 6 vols.

Volume I carries a new introduction by military historian John Keegan. Issued in paperback as boxed sets, in both trade and book club varieties. Book club variants do not display prices on the book wrappers.

Easton Press Issue: ICS A123q. Easton Press, Norwalk, CT: 1989, 6 vols.

Another offprint taken from Houghton Mifflin first edition sheets with no textual alterations save its reset title pages. Bound in black pigskin, decorated gilt on boards; five raised spine bands with titles gilt on two red leather labels. Gold moire endpages, yellow cloth pagemarker, all edges gilt. Offered by mail order at $260/£156. Like all readymade collector’s items this is nothing more than a fancy reprint, and because so many cheaper sets are around, it is no bargain. Textually it retains the drawbacks of the First American Edition from which it is taken; Easton Press, which is capable of highly professional work, should have printed from the English Edition. The pigskin binding is heavily dyed, carries no aroma and cracks audibly when the stiff boards are opened. Although it has appeal to collectors of leather-lined libraries, there is really nothing to recommend it over the many other fine editions described above.

Taiwan Issues

Both the six-volume original and the 1959 abridgement were published in Taiwan on cheap page stock, reproduced from the Cassell English editions. Whether or not these are “pirated” I leave to the bibliographers, but that is the general impression in the book trade, where they command very low prices. Six-volumes Unabridged: Offprinted from the English Edition, possibly a later edition, since the title pages are not from the English First. On rear free endpapers of each volume is a Chinese inscription rubber stamped in purple ink. The vol. VI dust jacket states “Overseas Edition” in red on front inside flap; none of the others do. One-volume Abridged: Offprinted from the English Edition, with a Chinese inscription printed on page (iv). Bound in beige cloth, spines blocked silver.

Foreign Translations

For descriptions, publishers and dates refer to the Connoisseur’s Guide.

Arabic: [titles in Arabic], 6 vols.

Danish: Den Anden Verdens-Krig, 6 vols.

Dutch: Memoirs, 10 vols.

French: Memoires sur la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale, 12 vols.

French (Belgian): Memoires sur la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale, 3 vols.; (a variant bound in 4 vols. also exists). This is the most luxurious and desirable foreign language edition, printed two-colour and replete with specially drawn maps. Many photographs are unique, including a rare photo of Churchill orating in the well of the House of Commons and a beautiful photo of Roosevelt inscribed in 1942 to Churchill. Scores of other photos repeatedly depict the Prime Minister and virtually every significant military and political figure of the Second World War. The colour frontispiece (Vol. I only) reproduces the Salisbury portrait of WSC which hangs at Chartwell.

French (Swiss): Memoires sur la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale, 12 vols.

German: Der Zweite Weltkrieg, 12 vols.

German (Swiss): Der Zweite Weltkrieg, 6 vols.

Greek: [titles in Greek], 12 vols.

Hebrew: [titles in Hebrew], 6 vols.

Italian: La Seconda Guerra Mondiale, 12 vols.

Japanese: [titles in Japanese], 24 vols.

Korean: [titles in Korean], complete and abridged, various vols.

Norwegian: DenAnnen Verdenskrig, 12 vols.

Polish: Druga Svetovna Vojna., 6 vols.

Portuguese (Brazilian): A Segunda Guerra Mondiale, 6 vols.

Russian: [titles in Cyrillic], 6 vols.

Serbo-Croat: Drugi Svetski Rat, 6 vols.

Spanish: La Segunda Guerra Mondial, 6 vols.

Swedish: Andra Vardlskriget, 12 & 6 vols.

Turkish: Corcil Anlkyatiyos, 4 vols.

Combined Work: Sekye Inmool Toe Hoi Korok (Korean)

Literally “The Great Memoirs of Our World.” Taken from the abridged texts of The World Crisis and The Second World War. Published by Korean Publishing Corp., Seoul: 1989, 325 pp.