- 241
Sir Winston Churchill
Description
- Sir Winston Churchill
- Painting as a Pastime. London: Oldhams Press Limited & Ernest Benn Limited, 1948
- paper
Condition
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Like with her copy of Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind (lot 27), Vivien wanted the author to inscribe her copy of Painting as a Pastime, the published version of two essays on painting Churchill had first written for Strand magazine. So, in May 1950, after he had come to see her in A Streetcar Named Desire, she wrote to him with her request: "You were very kind an😼d said that if I sent you my book you would sign it for ꦬme, so here it is" (23 May 1950).
Clear𝓡ly charmed by her reque🌠st, Churchill dispatched an aide to seek out a special copy to replace her standard trade edition. Some two years after the publication, it was thought unlikely that one of the small number of special copies would still be available: "Mr. Churchill says have we got a nicely-bound one? I said I thought not, but I wonder if you would make sure..." (memo, 24 May 1950).
Evidently a spare copy was found, inscribed, and sent to Vivien in late June, along with her original copy. Vivien was of course delighted to receive such "a beautifully bound and wonderful book": "Would you kindly convey to Mr. Churchill my tremendous delight and pleasure at his charming thought [...] it was a lovely surprise and will of course be a great treasure" (letter to Cecily ('Chips') Gremmell, 2♏8 June 1950).
Other such special copies of Churchill's book were given to the D𝔉uchess of Windsor (sold at Sotheby's New York, 23𓆉 February 1998) and artist George W. Leech.