ALS signed “Winston S. Churchill,” one page both sides, 5 x 7.75, “Ashby St. Ledgers, Rugby” letterhead, February 5, 1905. Churchill writes to “My dear Renton.” In full: “I begin to think that after all I had better stay with you for the night, & go by the 7:42 next morning. It is cruelly early, but a broken night’s rest is a still greater trial after a long speech & cross country journeys & I cannot find that there are any sleeping cars. I am coming by a 2 o’clock train from Rugby arriving at Gaviston a little before 6 o’clock. I hope you will give me a hot bath before the meeting....” At the time of writing, Churchill had only recently jumped ship from the Conservative Party to sit with the Liberals in Parliament. 1905 would prove to be a pivotal year in Churchill’s political and literary careers. Among other accomplishments, he completed work on his two-volume biography of his father, Lord Randolph Churchill; in December, he assumed office as Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, which enabled him to exert much influence in the administration and social policies of the Boer Republics and elsewhere. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from PASS-CO. In very good condition, with small edge separations at mailing folds, light wrinkling and soiling, a few small, faint spots (mainly to blank portions), and a small spot of thinning to first page, subtly visible behind “i” in “Winston.” The writing is clear and dark throughout. Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
