Marlborough. His Life and Times by CHURCHILL, [Sir] Winston Spencer (1874-1965)

London: George G. Harrap and Co., 1933-1938. [Biography/History] FIRST EDITIONS. Four volumes, the first volume SIGNED AND INSCRIBED BY CHURCHILL IN THE MONTH OF PUBLICATION. Octavo (24 x 17 x 22cm), pp.[4]; 612; pp.651; [1]; pp.[2]; 608; [2]; pp.671; [1]. With 325 illustrations, including a frontispiece to each volume, black and white plates, folding maps and battle plans, and facsimile documents. Handsomely bound in recent burgundy full morocco, gilt, with twin navy blue morocco title labels, top edges gilt. With the author's presentation note in black ink to title-page of volume one: 'Inscribed by / Winston S. Churchill / Oct. 1933'. A little spotting as expected else contents clean, exterior unmarked. A fine set in an elegant recent leather binding, housed in a protective cloth slip-case with ribbon pull. The monumental biography of Winston's ancestor Sir John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough, and Britain's greatest military strategist. As Restoration England's most talented General, he served under five Stuart and Hanoverian monarchs in campaigns such as the Franco-Dutch War, the Monmouth Rebellion, and the Glorious Revolution.