Painting as a Pastime. by CHURCHILL, Winston S - 1948

London: Odhams Press Limited and Ernest Benn Limited,, 1948. First separate edition, first impression, with the signature of Herbert Morrison on the first blank. Morrison (1888-1965), whom Churchill referred to as "a curious mix of geniality and venom", was a Labour statesman who played a prominent role in the coalition government during the Second World War. In May 1940, he was appointed Minister of Supply by Winston Churchill and served in the war cabinet from 1942. Painting as a Pastime was originally published in the Strand Magazine in two parts in December 1921 and January 1922, and was included in Churchill's Thoughts and Adventures in 1932. This is the first edition of the essay in separate book form. Churchill first started painting during the First World War, and remained a keen painter throughout his life. Octavo (217 x 138 mm). Contemporary blue crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf, letters to spine gilt in compartments, raised bands, gilt rule to boards, rolls and rules to turn-ins gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Portrait frontispiece and 15 colour plates. Rubbing to tips and spine ends, spine and book edges sunned, ring mark to rear board. Clean and bright internally. A very good copy. Cohen A242.1.a; Laura Ward, Book of Put Downs, 2004, p. 67.