CHURCHILL, Winston Spencer (1874-1965) Marlborough His Life ...

CHURCHILL, Winston Spencer (1874-1965). Marlborough His Life and Times . London: George G. Harrap, 1933-1938.
CHURCHILL, Winston Spencer (1874-1965). Marlborough His Life and Times . London: George G. Harrap, 1933-1938. 4 volumes, 8 o (221 x 142 mm). Half-titles, 3 errata slips. 135 plates and maps (22 folding, a few printed in color), in-text illustrations. Modern burgundy morocco, covers with central gilt arms of Marborough, spines gilt in 6 compartments with 5 raised bands, gilt-lettered in 3, turn-ins gilt, edges gilt. Provenance : Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865-1948) Secretary of State for War, British Ambassador to France (presentation inscription from the author). FIRST EDITION. PRESENTATION COPY INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL on free endpaper: "To Derby from Winston SC August 1938. Stanley fought in the Second Boer War. He served as the Secretary of State for War from 1916-1918, and again from 1922-1924. He was Britain's Ambassador to France from 1918-1920. Stanley was also one of the most prominent owner-breeders of horses in the 20th Century. He served as the honorary president of the Rugby Football League; taking after his father (who commissioned what is now known as the Stanley Cup in 1892), he donated a cup to the French for a knock-out rugby competition now known as the Lord Derby Cup. Woods A(40)a. (4)