The Story of the Malakand Field Force, An Episode of Frontier War, the first printing of the Colonial edition with the Indian errata slip prepared by Churchill.
London: Longmans, Green, & Co., 1898. First edition, Colonial library issue, first printing. Hardcover. This is the scarce first edition, first printing of the “Colonial Library” issue of Churchill's first book, bearing the unusual and rarely seen Indian errata slip arranged personally by Churchill.
This is an original, unrestored copy; it has not been rebacked or had endpapers replaced like so many of the copies that survive. Condition is very good, particularly given the inherent rigors associated with colonial provenance. The binding is square and tight, the hallmark greenish-gray color still distinct on both the covers and spine, the striking front cover illustrated in blue only lightly scuffed, the spine gilt still bright despite moderate, uniform spine toning. We note a bit of wrinkling and fraying to the spine ends, lightly bruised upper corners, a small dent along the top edge of the front cover, small blisters to the cloth at the fore edges and joints, and some soiling to the spine and rear cover fore edge. The contents are clean, albeit age-toned. Trivial spotting appears confined to the endpapers, frontispiece tissue guard, and final few leaves. Despite wearing some evidence of its age and travels, this is an intact, complete, and well-preserved copy of this first Colonial Library issue, sold in India while Churchill was still there, and bearing the errata slip that he prepared.
The author's first book recounts his experiences when attached to Sir Bindon Blood's punitive expedition on the Northwest Frontier of India in 1897. First printing copies of the Colonial issue were produced in small numbers simultaneously with the Home Issue. The harsher climate and condition of the colonies meant low survival rates and often poor condition for those few examples that survived. Complicating matters for collectors, there were no fewer than 10 different editions, printings, and binding variations for the very small number of Colonial issues ultimately produced from 1898 to 1901.
Here, the first printing of the Colonial issue is made still more scarce and desirable by the presence of the rare Indian errata slip unique to only a portion of this particular Colonial issue.
Publication of the first edition of 1898 was arranged by Churchill's uncle while the author was still in India, resulting in numerous spelling and detail errors. Churchill was incensed by the errors and acted with haste to address them. Per Cohen in his Bibliography: "Colonial Library copies are known with an unusual errata slip, which was prepared in India on or about 7 April 1898. It was, therefore, in all likelihood available in first edition copies in India before the domestic errata slips were available in London and certainly before the domestic errata slips were available in India." (Cohen, Vol. I, A1.2.c, p.14).
Churchill was still serving in India at the time. In a 22 March 1898 letter to his mother, Churchill lamented the "gross & fearful blunders" of the first edition and stated: "I may catch the Indian edition, in which the absurdities would be most laughed at.” Evidence indicates that Churchill personally arranged for the printing of the Indian slips, paid for them himself, and had them tipped into the Colonial copies before distribution. They are printed on distinctive laid, watermarked paper and contain four additional corrections not found on the domestic errata slip, as well as small differences in the other corrigenda. Given the provenance of the Indian errata slip, we can be confident that this copy originally sold in India, where the young author was serving at the time. This first printing of the colonial issue is also noteworthy for being the only of the many books published in Churchill’s lifetime with the “L.” for “Leonard” appearing on both the binding (spine and lower front cover) and the title page.
Reference: Cohen A1.2.c, Woods/ICS A1(ab.1), Langworth p.15. Item #008266
Price: $2,600.00