Scarce original 5 x 8.5 cabinet photo of Churchill as a young politician, circa 1908, by John Thomson, signed below the image in black ink, “Winston S. Churchill.” Embossed studio info at the bottom of the mount reads: “By Royal Warrant, Photographers to His Majesty the King, 141 New Bond St., W., Thomson.” In very good condition, with scattered surface marks and impressions, silvering to borders of the image, a few dings to the left border of the mount, and left and right edges of the mount lightly trimmed. This portrait comes from a sitting with famed Scottish photographer John Thomson, who pioneered photojournalism with his social documentary photography from throughout the Far East and the streets of London. He went on to become a portrait photographer of British high society, gaining the Royal Warrant in 1881. Around the time of this photograph, Churchill began his third term in Parliament and married Clementine Hozier, who he would remain with until his death. The dignified portrait depicts Churchill wearing his famous navy blue and white polka-dot bow tie, eventually mass-marketed as the ‘Blenheim,’ which he popularized and wore throughout his life. RR Auction COA.
