A Roving Commission, a presentation copy inscribed and dated in New York City by Churchill on Christmas 1931 during his convalescence weeks after a near-fatal accident

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1930. First edition, second printing. Hardcover. This presentation copy of Winston Churchill's extremely popular autobiography was inscribed in New York City in December 1931, just weeks after Churchill’s near-fatal accident, almost certainly as a Christmas gift to one of the people who aided his convalescence. The inscription, inked in five lines on the half title, reads “To | Theresa Hawkins | from | Winston S. Churchill | Christmas 1931”.

The U.S. first edition, second printing is distinguished from the first printing by only a single character – namely absence of the Scribner’s “A” on the title page verso. (truncated) This second printing’s binding, contents, and dust jacket are all otherwise identical to those of the first printing. Published in December 1930, the second printing swiftly followed the first printing of late October 1930.

Condition of this inscribed presentation copy is very good plus in a good dust jacket. The binding remains square and tight with sharp corners, the orange-red hue of the cloth still vivid on the spine and covers. The binding shows only light handling and soiling and a hint of toning to extremities, corresponding to small dust jacket losses. The contents are respectably clean, modest spotting mostly confined to the endpapers and prelims, only light and occasional within the text. The sole previous ownership mark is the author’s inscription. Differential toning to the endpapers corresponds to the jacket flaps, confirming what the bright binding testifies - that this copy has spent life jacketed. The dust jacket is chipped and worn, but both unclipped, retaining the “$3.50” front flap price, and uncommonly bright, with the red-orange spine panel only faintly duller than that of the front face. The white spine panels and rear face show overall soiling, as does the navy panel of the lower front face. Closed tears and shallow losses are ubiquitous to the edges, the most significant being a 1.25 inch (3.2 cm) deep loss to the upper rear face corner. None of the losses impacts any print. The dust jacket is protected beneath a clear, removable, archival cover.

When he arrived in New York on 11 December 1931 to begin a lecture tour, Churchill had already been a Member of Parliament for more than a quarter of a century and held more than half a dozen Cabinet positions. But what lay ahead was arguably more remarkable still – more than thirty additional years in Parliament, as well as two premierships spanning more than eight and a half years at 10 Downing Street. This second act almost ended abruptly.

Two days after he arrived in New York, on 13 December, Churchill received a dinner invitation from his old friend, Bernard Baruch. Churchill knew Baruch lived on Fifth Avenue and had been there several times, but he did not know the exact address. After he left his cab to search on foot, he was met with the peril of every transatlantic traveler; he looked the wrong way to cross the street – and was consequently struck by a car. Witnesses feared he had been killed.

“It was not until December 21 that Churchill was well enough to leave Lenox Hill Hospital and for two more weeks he had to remain in bed at the Waldorf-Astoria.” (Gilbert, Vol. V, p.421) Hence Churchill was convalescing at the Waldorf-Astoria when this book was inscribed. While we have been unable to learn more about the recipient, “Theresa Hawkins”, it seems probable to the point of near certainty that Ms. Hawkins was staff at either the Waldorf or the hospital, to whom Churchill felt sufficiently appreciative to make a gift of an inscribed book at Christmas. This was long a custom of Churchill for those who worked for him and held his regard, particularly at Christmas. This second printing of A Roving Commission would have notionally been available and procured for the occasion from a New York City bookseller, having been published late in 1930.

PLEASE NOTE THAT A CONSIDERABLY MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THIS ITEM IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

Reference: Cohen A91.2.b, Woods/ICS A37(b.2), Langworth p. 134. (Inventory #: 006782)