Layout 8 - Winston Churchill

C O H E N C O R N E R
Bibliography: Churchill Miniature Books
Far less frequently encountered than his standard-size works, these four miniatures are highly
sought after. Two are “Section A” works by Churchill and two contain his contributions.
R O N A L D I. C O H E N
King George VI: The Prime Minister’s Broadcast February 7, 1952 (Cohen A262): the more common blue binding.
Churchill’s book-length works tend to be wellknown
to readers and collectors. Other more
ephemeral publications, which are almost
unknown in the Churchill canon, still merited inclusion
in Section A or B of the Bibliography of the Writings of Sir
Winston Churchill. Four of these were miniature books,
whose description was triggered by a query from reader
Pete Gohm. We must, of course, begin with an explanation
of what constitutes a miniature book. In the United
States, it is a volume no more than three inches in height,
width or thickness.
The first Churchill miniature was published by the
famed mini-book publisher Achille St. Onge in
Worcester, Massachusetts. Entitled King George VI: The
________________________________________________________
Mr. Cohen (ron@chartwellcomm.com) is author of the Bibliography of
the Writings of Sir Winston Churchill, 3 vols. (Continuum, 2006) and a
Finest Hour contributor. Photographs from the author’s collection.
Prime Minister’s Broadcast February 7, 1952, it underwent
a single printing of 750 copies at the Chiswick Press in
London in 1952. Sangorski & Sutcliffe bound it in two
distinctly different cases, one a very deep red full crushed
levant morocco (Cohen
A262.2.a), the other a dark purplish
blue full crushed levant
morocco (Cohen A262.2.b). The
first variant is considerably rarer: about 100 copies were
issued; the second saw a still very scarce run of 650. At
least one, which I am happy to say I own, was signed by
Churchill.
The next miniature was The Queen’s Message
Broadcast on Coronation Day (Cohen B139). It contained,
of course, the Queen’s message, preceded by Churchill’s
broadcast introduction to that message on page 5. It was
published in 500 numbered copies by the colourfullynamed
Hand & Flower Press of Aldington, Kent. Bound
FINEST HOUR 148 / 36