Winston Churchill Typed Letter Signed (1900), Arranging an Interview Shortly After His Return from the Boer War

TLS signed “Winston S. Churchill,” one page, 8 x 10, 35A, Great Cumberland Place, W. letterhead, July 28, 1900. Letter to Mrs. Insley, possibly American journalist Rebecca H. Insley, in full: “I am afraid it would be impossible for me to see you before Tuesday next; but if that would not be too late, I shall be at [at] your service at 10. a.m. on Tuesday morning. Will you please let me know whether you will be able to keep the appointment.” Churchill adds a couple of punctuation corrections in his own hand. The reverse of the letter bears an affixed typed caption which reads: "This letter was sent to an American woman who obtained the first interview with Mr. Churchill before his departure from London for his first lecture tour in the United States. He had just returned from the South African War." In very good to fine condition, with small stains, multiple intersecting folds, and light show-through from the caption affixed to the back. Accompanied by a secretarial letter sent to the same woman two years later, June 30, 1902: “I enclose two inserts to be put in the manuscript in place of that which I have scratched out. They are numbered 1st and 2nd. I am quite overwhelmed with your kindness to me, and hope I should see you again.”

Churchill wrote on stationery bearing the address of his mother’s London home, eight days after returning from South Africa, where his escape from Boer captivity had brought him international attention. Three days earlier, he had received an enthusiastic welcome in Oldham, where he had lost a by-election the previous year and was preparing to contest the seat again. The North American lecture tour mentioned in the affixed typed caption followed more than four months later, with his departure for New York on December 1, 1900.