My Early Life. A Roving Commission (1930)

The frontispiece is a portrait of Churchill's mother, the American Miss Jennie Jerome, wife of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill (see also Lot 241).

This fourth impression copy appeared two months after the first edition of October 1930.

Looking back as it does over a quarter of a century, this book may be one of Churchill's most readable volumes, written straightforwardly and with charm. The reader can hardly believe Churchill's early achievements and prowess - one example being three major speeches in his first session in the House of Commons, with all three capturing the attention and admiration of Government and Opposition members alike.

The author's coverage of the Anglo-Boer War runs to some 125 pp, or one-third of the total text.

Well repaired, this is now an attractive copy. The maroon cloth-boards have been reinforced with a matching Skivertex spine, with the original spine cover laid down, and new plain endpapers. The cover corners are only very lightly bumped and the boards are free from rubbing or other marks. The binding is tight. 392 pp of text and index + 15 inserted photographic plates and a map + a further 11 illustrations and maps in the text.

CONDITION NOTES. The fly-leaf is sunned, but the rest of the copy is unsunned and unfoxed or otherwise discoloured. A rounded piece of the lower margin of pp 9/10, the preface, with maximum dimensions of 3 x 6 cm, is missing, but the text is unaffected. The text and plates are all present, there are no ownership or other marks; and no other faults.