A circa 1925 signed photograph of Winston S. Churchill astride a polo pony in his polo kit in the final years of his more than three decades as a polo player.
circa 1925. Photograph. This is an early 1920s photograph of Winston S. Churchill in his polo kit, signed by Churchill. The image captures Churchill astride a polo pony from his left side, looking toward the camera, hat and mallet in his right hand. Churchill signed the photograph “Winston S. Churchill” to the lower left of his pony’s forelegs, just below the head of his mallet. The image, printed on matte photo paper, measures 7.375 x 4.75 inches. It is compelling in composition, even if not crisp in resolution, and in very good condition, with a few faint suggestions of creasing but little wear otherwise. Adhesive scars to the top and bottom edges of the verso as well as pencil notes indicate that it was originally matted. Though the photo is undated, we note that Churchill’s kit matches that worn in matches of the early-mid 1920s, including his 18 July 1925 match in which Churchill was among the Captains of the House of Commons team which defeated the House of Lords. The photograph is protected within a clear, removable, archival mylar sleeve and housed in a rigid, crimson cloth folder. This signed photograph previously belonged to the legendary Forbes family Churchill collection; the original Forbes purchase invoice remains with the item.
One could argue that foremost among the many passions of Churchill’s long life was polo – even that polo was fundamentally reflective of his character. Richard Langworth once posited that a contemporary writer’s description of Churchill’s polo tactics illuminates much in Churchill’s approach to life and politics:
“He rides in the game like heavy cavalry getting into position for the assault. He trots about, keenly watchful, biding his time, a matter of tactics and strategy. Abruptly he sees his chance, and he gathers his pony and charges in, neither deft nor graceful, but full of tearing physical energy – and skillful with it too. He bears down opposition by the weight of his dash and strikes the ball. Did I say strike? He slashes the ball.”
Churchill first mentioned polo in a September 1893 letter to his father; he had just arrived at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. As he began intensive training as a cavalry officer, he also discovered polo and began playing regularly. Despite the various minor distractions of debilitating injury, wars, cabinet posts, and the like, he would keep playing as often as he could for more than three decades. As a vignette indication of his enthusiasm, “An appointment book for 1901, his first year in Parliament, showed seven polo dates in May, three in June.”
Further indication of his dedication is persistence in the face of injury and limitation. Churchill dislocated his shoulder on arriving in India in 1896. The injury left his shoulder permanently vulnerable to re-injury. But instead of quitting polo, thereafter he played – for three more decades – with his right arm strapped to his side. Interestingly, in this photo the capture angle and placement of his helmet keep the strap from being seen.
It could get worse than just a bum shoulder. On 18 April 1922, after playing at the Duke of Westminster’s Eaton Hall home, Churchill was “thrown from his horse… and so badly injured that he could not move or even sit up in bed for thirty-six hours.” As a result, “he determined to finally give up the game that had been his passion for more than twenty-five years…”
“But he did not. Churchill played with the Prince of Wales on occasion in 1924. He played on the House of Commons Team that defeated the House of Lords in 1925.” Churchill finally played his last game on 8 January 1927 at Wembley. He was 52 years old. A few years later, in 1930, he published his autobiography of his early life, in which he included the following advice to parents:
“Don’t give your son money. As far as you can afford it, give him horses. No one ever came to grief – except honourable grief – through riding horses. No hour of life is lost that is spent in the saddle.”
Sources: Gilbert; Richard & Barbara Langworth; ICS. Item #008410
Price: $9,500.00