The Second World War 5-volume Set [Hardcover] by Winston S. Churchill

Description

The Second World War 5-volume set [Hardcover] by Winston S. Churchill

Winston S. Churchill’s The Second World War is a landmark historical narrative from one of the conflict’s primary leaders. Spanning five volumes—The Gathering Storm, Their Finest Hour, The Grand Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, and Closing the Ring—Churchill’s account offers both a strategic overview and an intensely personal perspective on the events that reshaped the mid-20th century. First published between 1948 and 1954, these volumes remain a cornerstone of WWII scholarship and a key source of insight into wartime decision-making at the highest levels of the British government. Churchill’s distinctive prose style also cemented his literary reputation, culminating in his Nobel Prize in Literature (1953) for this and other works.

SKU: VBe-055
Title: The Second World War (5 Volumes)
Author: Winston S. Churchill
Year(s) of Publication: 1948–1954 (mixed later editions; e.g. Vol. II is stated “3rd Edition”)
Publisher: Cassell & Co. Ltd. (London, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington)
Binding: Black cloth hardcovers, gilt lettering on spine, top edges stained red/pink
Dust Jackets: Yes, original, all five present but heavily worn

Damage/Condition Notes:
Dust jackets in poor condition: large chips, tears, and missing segments especially along tops and spines
Boards generally sound with minor scuffs or rubs; gilt spine titles remain legible
Red topstain on text block edges partially faded or scuffed
Interiors appear clean overall, with mild toning and the occasional small spot
Mixed printings/editions (e.g., Vol. II explicitly “3rd Edition”)

Genre and Sub-Genre
Primary Genre: History / Military History
Sub-Genre: World War II Memoirs / Political and Diplomatic History
Condition Notes (Bookseller-Style)
Dust Jackets: Complete set of original jackets, but all five show extensive wear: major tears, creasing, and sections missing from spines and edges. Jackets are now in poor condition.
Hardcover Boards: Black cloth with gilt lettering; boards remain sturdy overall, with moderate shelf wear and bumped corners.
Spines: Gilt titles still legible; some rubbing or fading.
Page Edges: Red topstains present, though somewhat faded and blotchy in spots. Other edges untrimmed or lightly toned.
Interiors: Generally clean, with mild age-toning; no library stamps or major markings noted.
Edition Variants: This is a mixed set: Volume II is explicitly labeled “Third Edition,” and other volumes are likely later printings as well.
Overall Grade: Good reading set internally, but dust jackets are in poor shape, reducing overall collectible value.