CHURCHILL, Winston S (1874-1965) Churchill's full-cut crocod...

CHURCHILL, Winston S. (1874-1965). Churchill's full-cut crocodile-skin cigar case, c.1934, by Cartier Ltd, London, the initials 'W S C' set in brass on the fastening, length 170mm x width 90mm, a single cigar (unmarked) remaining in the four-cigar chamber. Provenance : manufactured especially for Churchill in c.1934 (information from Cartier archives); given by Clementine Churchill to Churchill's former bodyguard Inspector Cyril Davies after Churchill's death (typed letter signed, 22 June 1965; compliments slip 'Sent with Lady Spencer-Churchill's compliments and good wishes'); acquired by the present owner from Davies's estate; [ with ] three telegrams from Churchill to Inspector Davies, acknowledging birthday wishes in 1959, 1963 and 1964.
CHURCHILL, Winston S. (1874-1965). Churchill's full-cut crocodile-skin cigar case, c.1934, by Cartier Ltd, London, the initials 'W S C' set in brass on the fastening, length 170mm x width 90mm, a single cigar (unmarked) remaining in the four-cigar chamber. Provenance : manufactured especially for Churchill in c.1934 (information from Cartier archives); given by Clementine Churchill to Churchill's former bodyguard Inspector Cyril Davies after Churchill's death (typed letter signed, 22 June 1965; compliments slip 'Sent with Lady Spencer-Churchill's compliments and good wishes'); acquired by the present owner from Davies's estate; [ with ] three telegrams from Churchill to Inspector Davies, acknowledging birthday wishes in 1959, 1963 and 1964. The cigar case is heavily rubbed, and was evidently frequently used by Churchill in the last three decades of his life: the presence of a last, unsmoked cigar is particularly poignant. Cyril Davies (d.1995) was Churchill's bodyguard during World War 2, accompanying him for example to Quebec to meet Roosevelt in 1944 (Gilbert Winston Churchill VII (1986) p.938 n.2); he had joined the Metropolitan Police in 1929, retiring in 1954 ( Finest Hour , Autumn 1995, no.88). (4)