Marlborough His Life and Times by Winston S. Churchill - 1933-1938

London: George G. Harrap and Co. Ltd. , 1933-1938. First edition. Cloth. Very Good Indeed. 9.5" by 6.5". Various. A pleasing first edition copy of Winston Churchill's fascinating history of his ancestor John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; complete in four volumes. John Churchill, the Duke of Marlborough was a renowned military commanders and statesmen, notable for his action in the battles of Blenheim, Ramillies, and countless other campaigns. His extensive career spanned the reigns of five monarchs and he is best remembered as one of Europe's great generals. This work, by the British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, was primarily written in order to redeem Marlborough's reputation that had been violently denigrated by the Whig historian Thomas Macaulay. Considering this, this four volume work is a laudatory celebration of Marlborough's life and military achievements. This is a first British edition of this fascinating work, with the first volume published by Harrap in October 1933 with the following volumes in 1934, 1936 and 1938. All four volumes here are first editions copies, as detailed to the verso of title pages. Bound in the uniform publisher's original red cloth, with gilt stamped Marlborough crest to the front boards. With an errata slip bound to page 17 volume I. Collated, complete with: Thirty two pages of portrait plates, eight facsimiles of documents (five of which are full page, and two of which are folding), and fifteen maps and plans (two of which are folding) to volume I. Thirty one portrait plates, three folding facsimiles, and seventy six maps and plans (seven of which are folding) to volume II. Twenty six portrait plates, two folding facsimiles, and sixty seven maps and plans (five of which are folding) to volume III. Twenty four portrait plates, one facsimile, and thirty nine maps and plans (three of which are folding) to volume IV. In the publisher's original cloth binding with gilt stamped crest to front boards and gilt title to spines. Externally very smart with minor shelfwear to extremities and head and tail of spines. Fading to spines, as expected with this colour binding. Prior owner's ink inscription to front free-endpapers. Front hinge split and strained after frontispiece plate volume I and III. Internally firmly bound. Pages slightly age toned to extremities but very bright and clean, with the odd spot only to the first and last few pages. Small mark to fore edge page 227 volume Ii, not affecting text. Very Good Indeed