Randolph S. Churchill; Martin Gilbert — Winston S. Churchill

London, Heinemann, 1966-1976 . First edition. Cloth. A collection of five illuminating first editions of this celebrated biography of Sir Winston Churchill, accompanied by seven companion volumes. The first five volumes of the official biography of Winston Churchill, each in their first edition. These five volumes cover the years between 1874 and 1939, and are accompanied by seven supplementary companion volumes. All twelve volumes are present in the publisher's original dust wrappers.The first two volumes are by the subject's own son, Randolph S. Churchill. Following his death in 1968, the later volumes were completed by Martin Gilbert, after having previously been approached by Randolph Churchill to do so.These are the only official biographies of the former Prime Minister and WWI veteran's life. In May 1960, five years before his death, he wrote to his son: 'I should be happy that you should write my official biography when the time comes. But I must ask you to defer this until after my death. I would not like to release my papers piecemeal, and I think that you should wait for the time being and then get all your material from my own Archives&apos. Also present are Parts 1 and 2 of the companion to volume I, Parts 1, 2 and 3 of the companion to volume II, and Parts 1 and 2 of the companion to volume III.With numerous photographic plates, illustrations and folding tables to each of the five biographical volumes. Collated, complete. In the publisher's original cloth bindings, with dust wrappers. With dust wrapper price clipped to one biographical volume and one companion volume, and price unclipped to remaining ten volumes. Shelf wear to spine heads and tails, with the odd instance of bumping. Fading to cloth of back strip and boards of biography volume I, and companion to volume III part 2, with boards otherwise bright and clean. Light discolouration to five of the companion volume dust wrappers, and sunning to dust wrapper back strip of biographical volume IV. Edge wear to back strip heads and tails, with small closed tears to back strip head and tail of 'Companion Volume III Part 2&apos. Internally, firmly bound. Pages bright and clean. Very Good . Ill.: None. Very Good/Very Good.