The Story of the Malakand Field Force

First Edition, First Impression of Churchill's first book. In it he relates his exploits with the Malakand Field Force, led by Sir Bindon Blood, on the Northwest Frontier of India in 1897. An interesting copy being from the Officer’s Mess library of the 14th West Yorkshire Regiment, with their rubber stamp to the verso of the frontispiece and with a ink notation to the half title page. Woods's bibliography suggests two states of the first edition, but subsequent research indicates precedence does not depend upon the presence or otherwise of the errata slip; this copy is without it. The publication was arranged by Churchill's cousin as he was still in India, resulting in numerous small errors, which were corrected the following year in the Silver Library edition.

8vo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full burgundy morocco, titles to spine gilt, box design with lion centre tools to spine gilt, raised bands, single rule to boards gilt, inner dentelles gilt, plain dark green endpapers, all edges gilt. Frontispiece portrait and 6 folding colour maps. Remnants of a library stamp to verso of title page along with stamped stock code, occasional light scattered foxing, an excellent copy in a fine binding.