Beschreibung:

CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Spencer (1874-1965). A cream-coloured stetson hat by Biltmore ('Cariboo Trail'), diameter 35cm, height approximately 13cm (a few small stains to brim); with a letter, a copy letter and two newspaper cuttings describing provenance. PROVENANCE: 1. Presented to Churchill by the City of Calgary (stamped on hat-band with Churchill's surname, and with the arms of Calgary and the words 'Presented by City of Calgary') 2. Presented by Sir Solly (later Lord) Zuckerman to Sir Edward Hallstrom of Willoughby, New South Wales, Australia (letter signed by Zuckerman, 23 April 1965, with retained copy of letter by Hallstrom asking if Zuckerman could obtain one of Churchill's hats for him). 3. Jerry Vitek, 1972 (bt at auction in rooms of F.R. Strange Pty Ltd, Sydney, August 1972). 4. Barry and Elza Briegel (sold to them by widow of Vitek); offered by them at auction, 1996. Churchill is known to have visited Calgary in August 1929, and this may have been the occasion for the presentation of the hat; he was photographed apparently wearing this hat whilst painting at Roquebrune in 1957 (see, for example, Martin Gilbert, Churchill. A Life , Heinemann (1991), illustration 142, facing p.875). There is no indication of how Sir Solly Zuckerman acquired the hat: during World War II he was scientific adviser to the RAF Chief of Combined Operations, and to the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, and advised on the selective bombing of coastal defences preparatory to D-Day; in 1965 he was chief scientific advisor to the Secretary of State for Defence, and an advisor to the Cabinet Office.