A collection of Winston Churchill’s belongings is up for sale, including a watch, a collection of first editions and a box of his famous cigars.
Winston Churchill, full name Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill, was a British statesman, soldier, writer and UK prime minister twice.
Born in Oxfordshire, he was leader of the Conservative party and served as PM from 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, and again from 1951 to 1955, as reported by What’s The Jam.
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A prolific writer and orator he wrote several books recounting his experience during the war and was awarded the Nobel Prize in literature in 1953.
He died from a stroke in 1965, aged 90.
His belongings remained with his family, but now some of the most poignant – from hair brushes and watches to newspapers and cigars – are being sold.
One of the listings is a Movado wrist watch, presented to Churchill in 1946.
For sale at £150,000.00, it was a gift from the citizens of Switzerland and is engraved on the reverse with the words: “To Winston Churchill as testimony of the admiration and gratitude of some Swiss citizens, September 1946.”
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Churchill visited Switzerland from 23 August to 20 September 1946, his sixth trip to the country.
According to the sale notes, the visit “was defined by one of the most important post-war speeches Churchill delivered, given in Zurich on 19 September 1946.”
Also for sale is a trio of cigars for £15,000.
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The box of three Havanas from the 1950s contains one unbanded cigar and two with the band of Joaquin Cuesta – Churchill’s favoured maker during this period.
The listing reads: “Joaquin Cuesta’s powerful Cuban cigars were Churchill’s favourite – Antonio Giraudier, Churchill’s cigar major-domo, called them “the finest cigars in the world for the finest man in the world”.
During the 50s Churchill was puffing 250 of them a month.
The ex-PM’s state funeral document, dated 30 January 1965 is also listed.
One of 302 copies of the folder of instructions provided for the service this one was given to the Director of Music for the Grenadier Guards, some of whose troops served as Churchill’s pallbearers.
Selling for £750, its condition is described as “a little rubbed and soiled, most pages now loosely held in binder as hole punches pulled through cords, but overall good.”
There is also a collection of first editions of The British Gazette, edited by Churchill to present the government’s case during the 1926 General Strike.
For sale at £450, the auction house says: “Although no features or articles are signed by Churchill, at least one article in each issue can confidently be ascribed to him.”
Other lots include books that once belonged to Churchill, as well as pictures, posters and a clothes brush and are for sale through Peter Harrington London.
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