THE SECOND WORLD WAR

6 volumes: The Gathering Storm; Their Finest Hour; The Grand Alliance; The Hinge of Fate; Closing the Ring; Triumph and Tragedy. 

First UK Editions: handsomely bound in half crimson calf with matching cloth sides, top edges gilt, some light foxing in volume one and on the fore-edges, a very good set. 

Cohen Ronald I.) Bibliography of the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill, London, 2006, A240.4, page 758ff, describes the first UK edition as the Second (British) Edition (1948-1954). Discussing the priority of the American Edition, Cohen continues, ‘The myth has grown up that the American edition preceded the British edition because of the unwillingness of Houghton Mifflin to continue accepting the changes to the text proposed by the author. This is not, in fact the case. Nor is the extent of the time lapse nearly as extensive as has sometimes been suggested. It was only 3 months and 13 days (from 21 June to 4 October), not six months. Moreover, it was hardly unanticipated at any time in the publication process. For example it was a matter-of-fact issue in a set of notes sent from Emery Reeves to Churchill on 28 February 1948. Publication: Cassell, London, 4 October 1948, 221,000 copies. Price 25s.'