SIGNED BOOK. – Winston S. CHURCHILL. My Early Life, a Roving Commission. London: Thornton Butterworth, Ltd., 1934. Keystone Library Edition, first impression, inscribed by Winston S. Churchill on the front blank, 8vo (222 x 137mm.) Photographic plates, maps, 1 folding, a loosely inserted typed compliments note from Churchill on ‘Chartwell’ headed paper, loosely inserted publisher’s advertisement. (Toning, corner creasing to compliments note, occasional light spotting.) Original pink cloth (slight spotting), dust-jacket (chipping to top of spine panel, tears with old tape repair to edge of upper panel, finger-marked). Note: The book is inscribed to Arnold Foster: ‘To Arnold Foster, from Winston Churchill, July 1935’. Foster would later serve as a Sub-Lieutenant RNVR at D-Day, taking his LCT onto the Normandy beaches. However, Foster’s connection to Churchill in the 1930’s was very likely through the firm W.D. & H.O. Wills Tobacco Ltd. After Oxford, Foster worked for the Bristol company for many years. It was through the connection between Wills and Bristol University- where Churchill was chancellor from 1929 to 1965- that the two most likely met. Bristol University named one of its most prestigious halls of residence after the tobacco company. And Wills, in turn, printed cigarette cards that featured Churchill’s face many times. Provenance: Arnold Foster (inscribed to by Churchill on the front blank, dated July 1935).