15 46. CHURCHILL, Sir Winston. collection of material relating to the old vic. 1930’s. £1,995
A small collection of material concerning sir Winston churchill and the old vic theatre, all from the papers of mrs mary st. John hutchinson (secretary(?) of the sadler’s Wells society) comprising:
i) A 2 page typed draft (undated) for an appeal to friends of the old vic and sadler’s Wells for subscriptions to acquire the scenery and costumes
designed by mcknight kauffer for a production of Othello at the st. James’s theatre. Signed by Churchill, Lord Berners, Lord Balniel and Mary Hutchinson. (small hole in page 1, tear on page 2, some staining and soiling).
ii) A selection of material relating to the competition to design the safety curtain of the old vic in 1938. a) A typed letter (11th April 1938) to mrs mary hutchinson, who was organising the competition, from evelyn Williams the clerk of the old vic. this
letter mentions that churchill had been to a performance of Coriolanus and that he had expressed his disappointment that he could not judge the competition. Apparently, however, clementine churchill was keen for him to be involved and churchill said that he would reconsider. (A little stained from paperclip).
b) A telegram (12th may 1938) from clementine churchill to mary hutchinson which reads “Winston delighted to do what you wish.” c) A carbon copy of a typed proof for the competition announcement with a couple of corrections. (A little creased and soiled with old paperclip marks) d) A copy of the final competition announcement, with churchill, kenneth clark and c.b. cochran announced as judges. (folded) e) A handwritten note in pencil on mrs hutchinson’s headed paper, presumably in her hand, being a draft of the announcement of the winner of the prize,
robert medley. iii) A handwritten letter from gwendoline churchill (Winston’s sister-in-law) to mrs hutchinson thanking her for an invitation to a reception. iv) A copy of the printed thank you note with a facsimile of churchill’s signature which was sent out in reply to cards received for churchill’s 90th
birthday. v) A typed letter signed by charles pick, the managing director of William heinemann publishers, dated 16 August 1966 to mr James heineman, a
previous owner of these items. in his letter mr pick thanks mr heineman on randolph churchill’s behalf for allowing access to these letters. “these letters shed an unexpected light on his [churchill’s] life and randolph churchill is sure they will be of interest”. the first volume of randolph churchill and later martin gilbert’s biography of churchill was published by heinemann in 1966, and these documents were clearly offered as material for the biography.
A fascinating glimpse into churchill’s private life and interests outside of politics. his willingness to support the old vic in both the mcknight kauffer
and safety curtain projects show his deep affection for the theatre, especially considering that at the same time as the safety curtain competition was being held churchill was heavily involved with dealing with the growing threat from germany.
All these items are presented in a blue morocco backed cloth flapcase with leather label.
47. CHURCHILL, Sir Winston. beating the invader. A message from the prime minister. Issued by the Ministry of Information in co- operation with the War Office and the Ministry of Home Security. 1941.
£498
A single printed leaf (275 x 210 mm), printed on both sides; a very good copy, preserved in a custom made cloth-covered flapcase with silk ties and a leather lettering-label.
A ministry of information leaflet, issued in may 1941, with advice on what to do in the event of an invasion and with a prefatory note by Winston churchill. (Woods A69)
48. CHURCHILL, Sir Winston (Contributor) statements relating to the atomic bomb. His Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1945.
£58
245 x 57 cm. pamphlet in original paper wrappers; front cover with vertical cease and small spot to margin, corners slightly creased, chipping to top of hinge, otherwise very good.
first edition, scarce. this pamphlet was released in the immediate aftermarth of the dropping of the first atomic bomb on hiroshima on 6th August 1945. it includes statements from both the incumbent prime minister, clement Attlee, and from Winston churchill, who had lost the general election as recently as 26th July and under whose premiership the manhattan project had been developed. fittingly, it is churchill’s advice that is given greatest emphasis as he issues a bleak plea that sums up the international politics of the cold War: ‘We must indeed pray that these awful agencies will be made to conduce to peace among the nations, and that instead of wreaking measureless havoc upon the entire globe, they may become a perennial fountain of world prosperity’. the rest of the pamphlet is devoted to a narrative of the development of the atomic bomb.
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