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and was appointed by the late statesman’s literary executors to do so in autumn 1902. Churchill worked on what was his most substantial literary project to date for the next two and a half years. The book was published to acclaim in the press, with the Sunday Times remarking on Churchill’s “maturity of judgement, levelheadedness and discretion” and The Spectator praising his style: “He has chosen the grand manner . . . but the general effect is of dignity and ease”. 2 volumes, octavo. Original red cloth (primary issue binding), spines and front covers lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest stamped in gilt to front covers. Photogravure portrait frontispieces, 13 plates and 3 facsimiles, 1 folding, 1 double- page. Light peripheral rubbing and bumping, a couple of tiny instances of wear to rear joint of vol. I, still fresh, bright square copies, light spotting to edges; an excellent set. ¶ Cohen A17.1. £850 [152333] 36 CHURCHILL, Winston S. Beating the Invader. London: Issued by the Ministry of Information in co-operation with the War Office and the Ministry of Home Security, 1941 First edition of Churchill’s rallying cry to the British people during the darkest period of the Second World War, when a German invasion was feared imminent, distributed to all households to prepare the citizens for invasion and to set out their duties to their country in that event.
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“If the invasion comes everyone – young or old, men and women – will be eager to play their part worthily . . . When the attack begins, it will be too late to go . . . for all of you then the order and the duty will be: ‘stand firm’ . . . where there is no fighting going on and no close cannon fire or rifle fire can be heard, everyone will govern his conduct by the second great order and duty, namely ‘carry on’.” Over 14 million copies were printed. Stocks were delivered from the HMSO Press at Harrow to the GPO between 19 and 23 May 1941. Deliveries to each household in the country began on the 27th and were completed within a week. The imprint code includes “(2 kds.)” meaning “2 kinds” of leaflet, indicating those with and those without the additional notice in red at the head of the front page. Those with the notice were issued to what became known as the “38 towns”, those coastal communities that were to be
evacuated under compulsory orders in the event of invasion. Initially there had been 17 communities on the list from Great Yarmouth round to Hythe. This was later extended to take in Littlehampton and certain inland towns (Ipswich, Colchester, Canterbury, etc.). Copies without the notice were for the majority of the country; there is no priority between them. “The huge print run might leave one with the impression that the leaflet would be commonly found today. It was, however, only a leaflet anticipating an event that never came to pass. In the event very few copies have survived” (Cohen). Quarto single-sheet flyer (280 × 210 mm), text both sides. Without the additional notice printed in red found in the minority of copies. Slight creasing as usual. In very good condition. ¶ Cohen B76; Woods A69. £850 [153382]
All items are fully described and photographed at peterharrington.co.uk
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