Author: Churchill, Winston S.
Publisher: BBC
Place published: England
Year: 1941
A singular set of Winston Churchill artifacts: 3 of the original BBC lacquered aluminum discs documenting one of Churchill's most famous speeches of the war, delivered on the evening of February 9, 1941 from the Prime Minister's residence at Chequers, and broadcast over the BBC to Britain and the Empire. In the speech, Churchill praises British civilians and the Civil Defense Services for standing up to to the German air bombardments. He speaks of the "mighty tide" of United States sympathy, goodwill and financial aid which has "begun to flow" across the Atlantic. In closing he quotes the verse from Longfellow's poem that President Roosevelt had recently sent him: "Sail on, O Ship of State! Sail on, O Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, with all the hope of future years, is hanging breathless on thy fate." Churchill then delivers one of his most brilliant oratorical flourishes of the war: "Here is the answer which I will give to President Roosevelt. Put your confidence in usÉWe shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle, nor the longdrawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job." These three discs constitute the original source recording by the BBC of this much reproduced speech. Each disc measures 13-inches in diameter and is a single-sided lacquered aluminum acetate. Thy represent three out of the speech's total of nine discs. Churchill's opening and closing paragraphs are present here, including the vital final lines. A blue label affixed to each is imprinted: "PLAY OUTSIDE TO INSIDE - THE BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION." Ink notations then read - "Title: Prime Minister" on one; "Title: Winston Churchill" on the other. "Origin: Home. Date: 9.2.41." The condition of all three discs is very good, though they have obviously been played. They represent three out of the speech's total of nine discs. Churchill's opening and closing paragraphs are present here, including the vital final lines. The discs come in a worn and frayed, reinforced paper sleeve with the ink notations: "41/1359 and 41/1360" across its front. that we have verified as BBC original. A spectacular one of a kind item.